Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to raise awareness of the symptoms of tuberculosis in light of increased cases in the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England and NHS Improvement launched the ‘Tuberculosis (TB): action plan for England’ in July 2021, which aims to improve its prevention, detection and control. The UKHSA and NHS England and NHS Improvement are continuing to work with partners to raise awareness of TB among vulnerable communities and healthcare professionals, to ensure timely diagnoses and access to treatment. This includes professional training resources and webinars and updating the available public information.

On World TB Day on 24 March, we highlighted to the public that a long-lasting cough and a fever may not solely be symptoms of COVID-19. With this national media coverage, resources were shared with partners and stakeholders for use at local and regional level.