Amazon Coventry Faces Tuberculosis Outbreak Amid Safety Concerns

Concerns are mounting at Amazon’s sprawling Coventry warehouse after health officials confirmed an outbreak of tuberculosis (TB) among its workforce, raising questions about workplace safety, public health, and the responsibilities of major employers in the face of infectious disease threats. The episode, which first came to light in September 2025, has since become a focal point for debate among employees, unions, politicians, and health experts across the UK.

According to multiple reports, including those from CoventryLive, Express.co.uk, and the BBC, ten employees at Amazon’s BHX4 fulfillment centre on Sayer Drive, Lyons Park, tested positive for what officials described as "non-contagious" or latent TB. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the NHS were quick to respond, launching a screening programme for employees and expanding testing in the weeks that followed. Amazon, for its part, has stated that it immediately followed all NHS and UKHSA guidance, made potentially affected staff aware of the situation, and continues to work closely with health authorities. As of January 19, 2026, no new cases have been identified and operations at the warehouse, which employs between 2,000 and 3,000 people, remain unaffected.

Despite these reassurances, the handling of the outbreak has come under fire from some employees and the GMB union, which represents many of the site’s workers. One Amazon employee told CoventryLive, “While TB is a serious infectious disease that understandably causes concern, the way this situation was communicated to employees was troubling. Internal guidance given to managers focused heavily on talking points, instructing them on what to say to staff rather than encouraging openness, transparency, or meaningful reassurance.” The worker added, “Employees are not just numbers or operational resources, they are human beings with families, health worries, and a right to clear and timely information when their wellbeing may be affected. Serious illnesses in the workplace should be handled with honesty and compassion, not carefully managed scripts.”

The GMB union has gone further, calling for all staff to be sent home and medically suspended on full pay until “appropriate infection control measures are implemented.” In a statement, the union argued, “Amazon is putting all workers, site visitors, and the local and wider communities at risk of exposure to a serious infectious disease. Coventry Amazon risks becoming the engine room of a mass TB outbreak of a scale not seen for decades. Immediate and decisive action — including the temporary closure of Amazon Coventry — is required to prevent this.” GMB’s senior organiser, Amanda Gearing, echoed these concerns, highlighting what she called the need for “stronger protections for employees” and linking the outbreak to broader concerns about workplace conditions in large warehouses.

Amazon, however, maintains that it has acted swiftly and responsibly. A company spokesperson told CoventryLive, “Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our team members. Last year, ten people who work at our Coventry fulfilment centre tested positive for non-contagious TB. In line with best practice safety procedures, we immediately followed guidance from the NHS and UK Health Security Agency and made all potentially affected employees aware of the situation. Out of an abundance of caution, we are currently running an expanded screening programme with the NHS.”

Health authorities have also sought to reassure the public and the workforce. Dr Roger Gajraj, a consultant in health protection with UKHSA West Midlands, explained, “The small number of individuals affected by tuberculosis are responding well to treatment and are no longer infectious, so pose no onward risk. As a precaution, and in line with national guidance, we are offering testing to those who may have had closer contact with the affected individuals. The overall risk remains low. TB is fully treatable with antibiotics. We continue to work closely with Amazon to monitor the situation.”

The outbreak has reignited discussion about TB, a disease often dubbed a "Victorian disease" due to its prevalence in 19th-century Britain, where it claimed millions of lives. While largely preventable and treatable today, TB has not disappeared. According to NHS guidance cited by Express.co.uk and MyLondon, TB typically affects the lungs and presents with symptoms such as a persistent cough (lasting more than three weeks), coughing up blood or phlegm, fatigue, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and a general sense of being unwell. If the infection spreads beyond the lungs, it can cause swollen glands, body aches, joint swelling, abdominal pain, confusion, and other symptoms. Notably, TB can exist in a latent form—meaning a person carries the bacteria but has no symptoms and cannot spread the disease. Active TB, by contrast, is symptomatic and can be contagious.

The NHS and UKHSA have emphasized that people with latent TB, like those initially diagnosed at Amazon Coventry, cannot infect others. Treatment typically involves a six-month course of antibiotics, and in some cases, steroids if the disease has spread to other organs. The BCG vaccine remains available for those at higher risk, including babies in high-prevalence areas, healthcare workers, and people who have close contact with TB patients.

TB is spread through prolonged close contact with someone who has active, contagious TB—usually by inhaling airborne droplets when a person with the disease coughs. People at higher risk include those living in crowded or unhealthy conditions, individuals with weakened immune systems, children under five, and those who have previously had TB that was not properly treated. The NHS advises anyone who believes they may have been exposed to TB to undergo screening, even if they have no symptoms, as latent TB can become active later in life.

Recent data from UKHSA illustrates a worrying trend: TB cases in England rose by 13% in 2024 compared to 2023, with nearly 5,500 cases reported last year. This uptick signals a rebound to above pre-pandemic levels, despite decades of progress in reducing TB’s prevalence. Health experts have warned that complacency is not an option, especially in environments where large numbers of people work in close quarters, such as warehouses and distribution centres.

Local political leaders have also weighed in. Coventry MP Taiwo Owatemi stressed the importance of transparency and prioritizing employee wellbeing, stating, “Amazon has a clear responsibility to look after its employees and to ensure that the working environment is safe, transparent, and responsive to legitimate health concerns. Workers should never feel that productivity is being prioritised over their health. Employees deserve reassurance, clear communication, and confidence that their employer is acting in their best interests. I will continue to monitor this situation closely and expect Amazon to work constructively with the NHS, public health authorities, and GMB to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to safeguard workers.”

The outbreak at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse has become a flashpoint for broader debates about labor rights, public health, and corporate responsibility in modern Britain. As health officials continue to monitor the situation and Amazon maintains its expanded screening and precautionary measures, the incident serves as a stark reminder that even in the 21st century, the risks posed by diseases once thought to be relics of the past can resurface in unexpected places.