Country of Origin

TB is not very common in the UK, but it used to be. It is still common in many other countries in the world.

If you have lived in a country where TB is common, you are more likely to have been exposed to TB bacteria. You can breathe in TB bacteria and have an infection without realising it. Your immune system can kill the bacteria or just keep them under control. You might only get ill years later.

Moving to the UK

If you live in the UK, but you have lived in a country that has a lot of TB, you are more likely to already have a TB infection.  This might only make you ill later on, so you need to look after your health. Getting registered with a local GP is a great way to look after yourself and your family. If you are at all worried that you have TB symptoms, ask for a test.

Does travel increase TB risk?

You aren’t very likely to catch TB on holiday. You have to live and work closely with people with TB in their throat or lungs for quite a long time. But if you travel to a country that has a lot of TB, you are more at risk, this is true even if you are visiting your home country.

Stress, living conditions and TB

Stress, not enough food and poor living conditions can make you more at risk of getting ill with TB. Living closely with many people can also make it easier for TB to spread.  If you have just moved to the country, you might be worried about other things and not notice that you have TB symptoms.

The good news is that TB tests and TB treatment are free and available to everyone in the UK. If you are worried, get a check up.

Find out about TB and health and immunity...

Most affected countries

The following countries have an estimated incidence of tuberculosis of 100 or above per 100,000 people per year

  • Afghanistan
  • Angola
  • Bangladesh
  • Bhutan
  • Bolivia
  • Botswana
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Cape Verde
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Congo
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Djibouti
  • Ecuador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mongolia
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Republic of Moldova
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • Rwanda
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Solomon Islands
  • Somalia
  • South Africa
  • Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Swaziland
  • Tajikistan
  • Thailand
  • Timor-Leste
  • Togo
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vietnam
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe