Deadly Victorian disease is back with symptoms similar to ‘Covid’ new variants

A surge in the deadly Victorian disease "Tuberculosis", commonly known as TB, has been observed in the UK.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns that there has been an increase in TB cases that ran rampant in the country during the Victorian times.

As the temperature across the UK is quickly dropping, cold and flu season is near, and more illnesses are circulating.

Reports from 2024 indicate that last year experienced a significant surge in tuberculosis cases, comparable to the outbreaks of COVID-19 and the flu.

Moreover, two new COVID variants, "Stratus" and "Nimbus," have also caused a significant increase in diagnoses of the infection since temperatures began to drop in September 2025.

As per the latest findings, the UK has seen a 22.2 percent increase in COVID-19 cases across the country.

People who test positive with COVID have been encouraged to isolate for five days to slow the spread of the highly infectious illness.

However, the other disease, responsible for about 25% of all deaths in the classical era, shares symptoms with both COVID and the flu, making it easily misinterpreted.

As compared to 2023, TB cases have increased by 13.6% in 2024.

UKHSA reports that there were 5,490 notifications of the disease in 2024, compared to 4,831 in 2023.  

About Tuberculosis Disease

TB is a contagious airborne bacterial infection. It primarily impacts the respiratory system and can spread throughout the body.

It can pass from person to person through sneezing and coughing, with airborne droplets infecting those in close contact.

TB disease was once a threat to public health, but now it is treatable with the help of antibiotics.

However, if left untreated, the disease can still be deadly; therefore, it is essential to observe symptoms that could indicate someone has been infected with TB.

Common symptoms of TB

The main symptom of TB is a cough with chest congestion that lasts for a few weeks, but patients often find it difficult to distinguish this from more common illnesses, like the flu or COVID.

"A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB," said Dr. Esther Robinson, Head of the TB unit at UKHSA

The bacterial infection can spread throughout the body, including bones, lymph nodes, and the brain, along with symptoms that include:

• Dark or cloudy urine

• Headache, brain fog, or confusion

• A stiff neck along with other body aches, including tummy or pelvic pain

• A rash on the legs, face, or other parts of the body

• Swollen glands, swollen joints, or ankles

• Gut issues with frequent constipation and dark or cloudy urine

TB with symptoms is referred to as active disease, but for some people, it may appear with no signs, which is labelled as latent TB.

Apart from the major indicators few other general symptoms include:

• Tiredness and exhaustion

•High temperature or night sweats

• Loss of appetite or weight loss

Additionally, UKHSA states that TB is preventable or curable, with 84.4% of patients completing treatment within 12 months.

While Dr. Robinson informed that the threat still lingers with the number of cases increasing, explaining: "We must act fast to break transmission chains through rapid identification and treatment.”