"The National TB Surveillance System said 44 in every 100,000 residents had active TB in Harrow, and cases "still seem to be rising", the council said. Laurence Gibson, Harrow's director of public health, said the current cohort of residents with TB were "likely to have been infected before they travelled to the UK", adding that it was an issue across north-west London."
"In Harrow, between January 2023 and December 2025, there was an average of 105 people per year diagnosed with active TB. It has the second highest number of active cases per borough in England, according to the National TB Surveillance System. Rates have increased year on year since January 2019, when incidents were at their lowest."
"Harrow's public health data shows that, of those eligible for latent TB screening, 35% were screened and of those, 10% completed treatment. Gibson told a health and social care scrutiny meeting that they "don't know why this is" but understanding it would form a "vital part" of creating an action plan."
Harrow, a north-west London borough, has the highest rate of active tuberculosis in the capital, with 44 cases per 100,000 residents according to the National TB Surveillance System. Between January 2023 and December 2025, an average of 105 people per year were diagnosed with active TB, making it the second highest number of active cases per borough in England. Rates have increased year on year since January 2019. Most current TB cases likely resulted from infections acquired before residents travelled to the UK. Of those eligible for latent TB screening, only 35% were screened and 10% completed treatment. Specific wards including Edgware, Centenary, Kenton East, and others showed the highest incidences. Harrow's Department of Public Health is developing a TB action plan expected in early 2026.
#tuberculosis-outbreak #public-health-crisis #harrow-london #latent-tb-screening #disease-surveillance
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