Amazon Coventry TB Outbreak – Union Demands Closure

Amazon confirmed 10 cases of non-contagious tuberculosis at its Coventry fulfillment center in September 2025, triggering demands for temporary closure from the GMB union and coordinated health screenings by NHS and UK Health Security Agency officials.

The outbreak at the BHX4 site, which employs approximately 3,000 workers, became public in January 2026 when GMB union representatives warned of potential mass infection risks. While Amazon maintains the site remains safe and operational, critics including BBC News and Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana have called the decision to keep the warehouse open “outrageous.”

Health authorities confirmed that affected individuals are receiving antibiotic treatment and are no longer infectious. As of early 2026, no additional cases have been identified, though precautionary testing of close contacts continues under UK Health Security Agency supervision.

Key Details of the BHX4 Outbreak

Critical Insights

The disclosure timeline reveals significant tension between operational continuity and public health transparency. Amazon identified the cluster in September 2025 but faced four months of pressure before the GMB union escalated concerns publicly. Warehouse environments present distinct challenges for respiratory disease containment due to shared ventilation systems and close-shift proximity, though health officials emphasize that tuberculosis requires prolonged exposure for transmission.

Zarah Sultana’s intervention reflects broader political scrutiny of Amazon’s workplace safety record. The demand for temporary closure, resisted by Amazon and rejected by health authorities, highlights conflicting risk assessments between occupational health standards and logistics sector operational pressures.

Outbreak Timeline

Health and Safety Details

Tuberculosis at the BHX4 facility involves non-contagious cases, meaning affected individuals either completed treatment regimens or presented latent infections without active transmission capability. The NHS protocols for such workplace clusters mandate antibiotic completion and microbiological clearance before return-to-work authorization.

UKHSA supervision includes screening close contacts identified through shift patterns and break-room proximity mapping. The 3,000-strong workforce underwent voluntary testing, with particular attention to high-density zones including packing stations and dispatch areas.

Timeline of Events

September 2025 marked the initial confirmation when Amazon’s occupational health team identified the pattern through routine surveillance. By late 2025, Coventry City Council public health officials had established monitoring protocols without recommending closure.

January 2026 brought public attention when the GMB union, representing warehouse staff, released statements warning of “potential mass infection risks” and accusing Amazon of prioritizing productivity over safety. The union’s call for immediate shutdown was declined following UKHSA risk assessments.

Clarity on Transmission Risks

Tuberculosis spreads via airborne droplets during prolonged close contact, typically requiring hours of shared space with an infectious individual. The BHX4 cases were designated non-contagious upon detection, significantly reducing transmission probability. Latent TB, present in some cases, cannot spread to others.

Health officials distinguish between active pulmonary TB (infectious) and latent or treated infections. Amazon’s Coventry facility operated under guidance that remaining cases posed negligible risk to colleagues or facility visitors.

Analysis of Workplace Response

Amazon’s decision to maintain operations while managing the outbreak follows protocols established during previous industrial health incidents. The company’s reliance on UKHSA guidance rather than union demands illustrates the regulatory framework governing workplace disease management in the UK logistics sector.

Critics argue that warehouse density—shared canteens, locker rooms, and conveyor belt proximity—warrants precautionary closure regardless of individual case status. However, public health guidance emphasizes that antibiotic-treated non-contagious cases present lower risk than operational disruption to pharmaceutical supply chains.

Official Statements

“The decision to keep the warehouse open is outrageous. Workers’ health must come before corporate profits, and Amazon should have closed the site immediately upon confirmation.”

Zarah Sultana, Coventry South MP

“We have followed all UKHSA and NHS guidance throughout this process. The safety of our employees remains our top priority, and we continue to work closely with health authorities.”

Amazon UK Spokesperson

“There is no evidence of ongoing transmission at the BHX4 site. Affected individuals are receiving appropriate treatment and are no longer infectious. Precautionary screening continues as standard protocol.”

UKHSA West Midlands Health Protection Team

Summary

The Coventry BHX4 fulfillment center remains operational following confirmation of 10 non-contagious tuberculosis cases identified in September 2025. While the GMB union and local MP Zarah Sultana demanded temporary closure, UKHSA and NHS officials confirmed that affected workers completed treatment protocols and present no infection risk. O precautionary testing of close contacts continues under health authority supervision, with no additional cases detected as of early 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions