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Amazon has confirmed an outbreak of what has been referred to as “Victorian disease” at one of its major UK warehouses.
The term refers to illnesses once common in the 19th century, and in this case it relates to tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection that, while now largely preventable and treatable, still exists in modern Britain.
The outbreak occurred at Amazon’s Coventry warehouse, which employs around 3,000 people.
According to the company, 10 workers tested positive for non-contagious tuberculosis known as latent TB during screenings carried out in September 2025.
Latent TB means the bacteria are present in the body but the person does not have symptoms and is not contagious in that state.
Health officials have stressed that people with latent TB cannot spread the infection to others, and those diagnosed are reportedly responding well to treatment.
Safety measures and testing
Amazon brought in staff from the NHS and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to conduct wider blood testing “out of an abundance of caution”.
The company says it has followed medical guidance throughout and that there have been no further confirmed cases since the initial detection. Operations at the warehouse, it adds, continue as normal.
Despite reassurances from Amazon and health officials, the episode has triggered strong reactions from unions and politicians.
The GMB union, which represents many of the warehouse’s employees, called for the site to be temporarily closed and all staff sent home on full pay until proper infection control measures are in place, the BBC has reported.
Some union leaders said the presence of TB, a disease once endemic in overcrowded Victorian cities, highlights ongoing concerns about workplace conditions in large warehouses.
Local MP Zarah Sultana described Amazon’s choice to keep the facility open as “outrageous” accusing the company of treating workers as if they were “disposable.”
She urged stronger protections for employees and said the situation was a reminder of long-standing debates around labour rights and public health.
How common is Tuberculosis today?
TB itself is a bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs.
While the UK has modern treatments, including antibiotics and vaccines, TB was once one of the country’s deadliest diseases, earning labels like “consumption” in the Victorian era.
UKHSA data suggests that TB cases have been rising in recent years, with nearly 5,500 reported in England in 2024, up from around 4,800 in 2023.
Health experts emphasise that latent TB is not immediately dangerous to the public, but recommend that anyone who believes they have been exposed undergoes screening.
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