Amazon is finishing up tuberculosis (TB) testing at its Coventry fulfilment centre after a small variety of staff have been discovered to have the infectious lung illness.
The corporate confirmed that screening is going down as a precaution, following the identification of a number of circumstances on the website, which employs round 2,000 individuals, in response to the GMB union.
The UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA) started a focused screening programme on the warehouse in September after a handful of staff have been identified with lively, contagious TB final yr. Amazon mentioned {that a} additional 10 workers subsequently examined constructive for latent TB in the direction of the top of 2025.
Latent TB means the micro organism are current within the physique however the person doesn’t have signs and can’t go the illness on. Nevertheless, with out therapy, latent TB can later turn into an lively and infectious type.
Dr Roger Gajraj, a marketing consultant in well being safety at UK Well being Safety Company, mentioned the people recognized with lively TB have been responding properly to therapy and have been now not infectious.
“As a precaution, and in step with nationwide steering, we’re providing testing to those that might have had nearer contact with the affected people,” he mentioned. “The general danger stays low. TB is absolutely treatable with antibiotics, and we proceed to work carefully with Amazon to watch the state of affairs.”
Amazon mentioned it had acted instantly after the preliminary circumstances have been found. A spokesperson mentioned: “We adopted steering from the NHS and UKHSA and made all probably affected workers conscious of the state of affairs. Out of an abundance of warning, we are actually operating an expanded screening programme with the NHS. Nothing is extra essential than the security and wellbeing of our staff members.”
Nevertheless, the GMB union has known as for stronger measures. Amanda Gearing, a senior organiser for the union on the Coventry website, urged “instant and decisive motion”, together with the momentary closure of the warehouse till an infection management measures are absolutely in place.
The union mentioned NHS workers attended the location this week to hold out blood assessments on staff and that a number of circumstances had been reported. One worker informed union representatives there have been considerations that some migrant staff could possibly be extra susceptible if that they had not obtained TB vaccinations of their international locations of origin.
Coventry Metropolis Council mentioned it was encouraging residents to stay alert to signs amid a broader nationwide rise in TB circumstances. A council spokesperson mentioned: “TB testing and therapy is free to everybody on the NHS, no matter immigration standing. Anybody experiencing signs ought to contact their GP or NHS 111 directly.”
Widespread signs of tuberculosis embrace a persistent cough lasting greater than three weeks, fatigue, fever, evening sweats and unexplained weight reduction. The illness spreads by way of extended shut contact with somebody who has lively TB.
In accordance with authorities knowledge printed in October, TB notifications rose by 13.6 per cent in 2024 to five,490 circumstances, bringing the UK near the World Well being Group’s threshold for a low-incidence nation.
The Coventry warehouse has beforehand been the main target of business unrest, with Amazon narrowly defeating a union recognition vote on the website in 2024.
