Tuberculosis in the United Kingdom with Specific Focus on South Asian Ethnic Groups – A Snippet into the Problem

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern in the United Kingdom, particularly among South Asian ethnic groups, including individuals of Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi origin. Despite forming only around 5% of the UK population, these groups account for a disproportionately high number of TB cases, with incidence rates up to 40 times higher than in the white British population. This literature review explores the underlying causes of this disparity, which include immigration from high-prevalence countries, socioeconomic deprivation, overcrowded living conditions, and comorbidities such as diabetes and vitamin D deficiency. Cultural factors—such as stigma, delayed healthcare-seeking behaviour, and reliance on traditional remedies—further contribute to delayed diagnosis and treatment. Current UK strategies involve port-of-entry screening, latent TB detection through Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRA), and targeted community-based interventions. Evidence suggests that culturally adapted approaches, including multilingual resources and involvement of community leaders, can improve screening uptake and treatment adherence. Addressing the elevated TB burden in South Asian communities requires continued investment in culturally tailored public health programmes, integration with broader health services, and a focus on tackling the social determinants of health. Enhanced surveillance and further research are essential to guide effective and equitable TB control strategies in these high-risk populations.