Harrow faces a significant public health challenge with the second-highest incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in England, a situation that has seen a notable increase since 2018. The alarming rise in cases was a key focus at the Harrow Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
A detailed assessment presented to the board revealed that 95% of active TB cases in Harrow between January 2023 and December 2025 were among individuals born outside the UK. A particular concern is the rise in cases among those born in India who had been in the UK for less than five years, alongside an increase in drug-resistant TB.
Public health officials are recommending a multi-pronged approach to combat the escalating crisis. This includes raising awareness of the TB Health Needs Assessment among relevant networks and communities. Crucially, the board is being asked to endorse a partnership with the North West London Integrated Care Board to explore supplementary routes for the Latent TB Infection screening programme. These could include occupational, educational, or community-based screening initiatives.
Furthermore, a request is being made to London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust to collaborate with Public Health to ensure sufficient secondary and community-based resources are available to address the growing TB challenges in Harrow. The report highlighted that over half of patients treated for active TB were eligible for latent TB screening, yet only 9% were referred for treatment, indicating a significant missed opportunity to prevent active TB cases.
