Research and analysis

Tuberculosis: prevalence of latent infection

Evidence on the prevalence of latent TB infection in occupational groups with prolonged indoor contact with cows.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 27 September 2023
• Last updated: 28 May 2025 — See all updates

Documents

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in occupational groups who have prolonged indoor contact with cows: a rapid review

Ref: GOV-15422. Published September 2023

PDF, 487 KB, 19 pages

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Details

This rapid systematic review aimed to identify and assess evidence on the prevalence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection within the UK, Ireland, and Western Europe in farmers and farm workers, vets, abattoir workers, and any other occupation that involves prolonged indoor contact with cows.

This rapid systematic review searched for research up to 19 May 2023 and included 3 studies. These looked at screening for TB in farmers, farm workers, and people with close contact with cattle after outbreaks of bovine TB in herds in the UK between 1993 and 2004.

Our evidence review on ‘Tuberculosis: contact tracing for exposures in low-incidence countries’ has been moved to a new page: Tuberculosis: contact tracing for exposures in low-incidence countries

Published 27 September 2023

Last updated 28 May 2025 + show all updates

1. 28 May 2025

   Moved 'Contact tracing strategies for detecting tuberculosis in people exposed to tuberculosis in low incidence countries: a rapid review' to a new page, which is linked from the details section.

2. 9 January 2024

   Added 'Contact tracing strategies for detecting tuberculosis in people exposed to tuberculosis in low incidence countries: a rapid review'.

3. 27 September 2023

   First published.