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 instances on the web site, which employs round 2,000 individuals, based on 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 recognized with energetic, contagious TB final 12 months. Amazon mentioned {that a} additional 10 staff subsequently examined optimistic 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 move the illness on. Nevertheless, with out remedy, latent TB can later turn into an energetic and infectious kind.
Dr Roger Gajraj, a guide in well being safety at UK Well being Safety Company, mentioned the people recognized with energetic TB have been responding nicely to remedy and have been not infectious.
“As a precaution, and in keeping with nationwide steering, we’re providing testing to those that could 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 instances have been found. A spokesperson mentioned: “We adopted steering from the NHS and UKHSA and made all probably affected staff conscious of the state of affairs. Out of an abundance of warning, we at the moment are working an expanded screening programme with the NHS. Nothing is extra necessary than the protection and wellbeing of our group members.”
Nevertheless, the GMB union has known as for stronger measures. Amanda Gearing, a senior organiser for the union on the Coventry web site, urged “speedy and decisive motion”, together with the momentary closure of the warehouse till an infection management measures are absolutely in place.
The union mentioned NHS employees attended the positioning this week to hold out blood checks on staff and that a number of instances had been reported. One worker advised union representatives there have been issues that some migrant staff may very well be extra weak if they’d 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 instances. A council spokesperson mentioned: “TB testing and remedy is free to everybody on the NHS, no matter immigration standing. Anybody experiencing signs ought to contact their GP or NHS 111 immediately.”
Frequent signs of tuberculosis embrace a persistent cough lasting greater than three weeks, fatigue, fever, night time sweats and unexplained weight reduction. The illness spreads via extended shut contact with somebody who has energetic TB.
In line with authorities knowledge revealed in October, TB notifications rose by 13.6 per cent in 2024 to five,490 instances, 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 commercial unrest, with Amazon narrowly defeating a union recognition vote on the web site in 2024.
