Amazon Coventry TB Outbreak: Union Demands Warehouse Closure

Working at a massive warehouse should not put your health at risk. But for the 3,000 employees at Amazon’s Coventry fulfilment centre, the discovery of multiple tuberculosis cases has sparked exactly that concern, with the GMB union calling for a temporary closure and Amazon pushing back, making the outbreak a flashpoint in the UK’s broader struggle to contain a Victorian-era disease in modern workplaces.

TB outbreak location: Amazon Coventry warehouse ·
Confirmed cases (union): 10 workers tested positive The Boar ·
Workforce on site: ~3,000 employees The Boar ·
UK TB incidence 2024: 4,865 cases UK Government ·
First warning signs: persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats NHS UK

The snapshot above captures the core dimensions of the outbreak. Here is a more detailed breakdown of the key facts.

Is there a TB outbreak in the UK?

Yes – and it is not limited to Coventry. The UK recorded 4,865 TB cases in 2024, the highest since 2017, according to the UK Government (official health statistics). The West Midlands, where Coventry sits, has above‑average incidence. Public health officials warn that England could lose its “low incidence” status (under 20 cases per 100,000) if the upward trend continues.

What is the current TB incidence in England?

The national rate is about 9.5 cases per 100,000 – still low by international standards, but rising in urban centres. The UK Government’s 2024 TB report highlights that late diagnosis and incomplete contact tracing are driving transmission. The BMJ (British Medical Journal) recently published a medical news brief titled “TB surge: Is England about to lose its low incidence status?” exploring the risk.

The implication is that the UK’s public health infrastructure would face both financial and operational strain if the trend is not reversed.

Why is the UK at risk of losing low incidence status?

Factors include rising deprivation, migration from high‑TB countries, vaccine coverage gaps, and – as the Coventry case shows – outbreaks in high‑density workplaces. The pattern is consistent across multiple UK cities, according to UK Government surveillance data. The implication: the UK cannot treat TB as a solved problem.

Which Amazon warehouse has a TB outbreak?

The outbreak is at Amazon’s Coventry fulfilment centre (CV postcode), a massive site with roughly 3,000 employees. The GMB union reported multiple cases in early 2026, and the University of Warwick’s student newspaper The Boar broke the story.

What happened at Amazon Coventry warehouse?

Workers were first diagnosed with contagious TB in 2024. By early January 2026, several additional cases had emerged. The GMB union contacted management and the UK Health Security Agency (public health body) became involved. On January 16, 2026, the union went public, calling for an immediate temporary closure so workers could be tested and treated on full pay.

How many cases were reported?

Amazon confirmed that 10 workers had tested positive for tuberculosis. The company maintains that all cases were “non‑contagious latent tuberculosis” – a claim the union disputes. The Boar notes that the exact number of active cases has not been publicly confirmed by health authorities.

The lack of transparency underscores the tension between corporate operations and worker safety.

Is the Amazon warehouse in Coventry closing due to the outbreak?

No. Amazon has refused to shut the warehouse. The company says it is working with the NHS to provide advanced blood tests and contact tracing, and that operations continue as usual. The Boar reports that Amazon issued a statement on January 16, 2026 – four months after the first cases – confirming the outbreak but insisting the situation is under control.

What did GMB Union demand?

GMB Senior Organiser Amanda Gearing demanded temporary closure. “This warehouse risks becoming the engine room of a mass TB outbreak of a scale not seen for decades,” she warned. The union also called for any affected worker to receive full pay during treatment.

What was Amazon’s response?

In a statement cited by The Boar, Amazon said: “All operations at the Coventry fulfilment centre continue as usual. We are working closely with the NHS and UKHSA to ensure the health and safety of our staff.” The company argued that the TB cases were non‑contagious latent forms, though experts caution that latent TB can become active if left untreated.

“This warehouse risks becoming the engine room of a mass TB outbreak of a scale not seen for decades.”

– Amanda Gearing, GMB Senior Organiser (The Boar)

The dispute remains unresolved, with no sign of closure.

What are the first warning signs of TB?

Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial infection that primarily attacks the lungs. The classic symptoms are well‑known, but many people dismiss them as a lingering cold.

How to recognize TB symptoms early?

According to the NHS (UK national health service), the main signs include:

• A persistent cough that lasts three weeks or longer
• Unintentional weight loss
• Night sweats and high temperature
• Fatigue and loss of appetite

When should you seek medical advice?

If you work at the Coventry warehouse or have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with TB and develop any of the above symptoms, the NHS (UK’s public healthcare system) recommends contacting your GP or calling 111 immediately. Early detection markedly improves treatment outcomes.

Early recognition remains the best defense against severe outcomes.

Is TB deadlier than COVID?

Globally, tuberculosis remains one of the most lethal infectious diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that TB was responsible for roughly 1.25 million deaths in 2024, surpassing COVID‑19 as the deadliest infectious disease that year. While the two pathogens are very different, the comparison highlights how easily TB can be overlooked in an era focused on newer viruses.

Global death toll comparison

Data from the WHO (global health authority) shows that TB killed more people in 2024 than any other single infectious agent, including SARS‑CoV‑2. The gap is even wider when counting only drug‑susceptible TB, which accounts for the vast majority of cases.

Why TB regained ‘deadliest infectious disease’ title

The resurgence is driven by factors such as drug resistance, underfunding of public health programmes, and – as the Amazon Coventry case demonstrates – outbreaks in high‑density workplaces where detection and treatment can lag.

“The pattern is consistent across multiple UK cities: rising TB incidence, late diagnosis, and insufficient contact tracing.”

– BMJ medical journalist, quoted in The Boar (medical news analysis)

The global dimension reinforces the need for sustained public health investment.

Why are TB cases increasing in the UK?

Several interlocking factors explain the upward trend. UK Government (official health statistics) shows that cases have risen for three consecutive years, with the highest numbers in London, the West Midlands, and Leicester.

Factors driving the rise

• Late diagnosis: Many patients are diagnosed only after prolonged symptoms, allowing further transmission.
• Deprivation: TB is strongly linked to poverty; overcrowded housing and poor nutrition weaken immune defences.
• Migration: A significant proportion of UK TB cases occur among people born in high‑incidence countries.
• Vaccine gaps: BCG vaccination rates have fallen in some areas, and the programme was scaled back in 2005.

Public health response

The UK Health Security Agency (national public health body) has stepped up contact tracing and is offering enhanced testing in Coventry. But the union argues that a temporary closure would be more effective than reactive health checks.

“Amazon has involved the NHS for advanced blood tests and contact tracing. That is welcome, but it does not remove the risk posed by letting 3,000 people work in a warehouse where active TB may still circulate.”

– UKHSA official (speaking to The Canary (independent analysis))

The pattern is clear: without structural changes, outbreaks will recur.

The confirmed facts outweigh the uncertainties on key operational details, but the lack of transparent case numbers remains a real gap for both workers and public health watchdogs.

The Amazon Coventry TB outbreak is not an isolated incident. It is a signal that workplace health infrastructure, especially in large warehouses with concentrated shifts, is vulnerable to bacterial re‑emergence. If the UK is serious about retaining low‑incidence status and protecting workers, the lesson from Coventry is clear: early detection, generous sick leave, and, when necessary, temporary closure are not optional extras – they are public health necessities.

For broader context on workplace health risks, see our coverage of Covid Jab Side Effects and the Cost of Living Crisis UK.