An outbreak of a ‘Victorian disease’ has been reported at an Amazon warehouse, confirmed by the company.
The online retail giant reported several cases of the condition and stated that a ‘screening programme’ is underway, being conducted with ‘an abundance of caution’.
Amazon mentioned that operations at the site would continue, following the guidance of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Ten employees at the Coventry warehouse in the Midlands, which employs around 3,000 people, tested positive for the disease in September.
This outbreak led to demands for Amazon to provide full sick leave and send all staff at the affected warehouse home.
The disease impacting the workers is tuberculosis (TB).
This particular outbreak involved ‘latent tuberculosis’, which is not contagious like its active form.
Amazon’s statement regarding the outbreak reads: “In line with best practice safety procedures, we immediately followed guidance from the NHS and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and made all potentially affected employees aware of the situation.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are currently running an expanded screening programme with the NHS.
“We will continue to follow guidance from the experts in the NHS, and would respectfully remind public organizations of the need for responsible communications where matters of public wellbeing are concerned.”
Health officials confirmed that affected individuals are responding well to treatment and no longer pose a risk of infection.
Dr. Roger Gajraj, a health protection consultant with UKHSA West Midlands, commented: “The small number of individuals affected by tuberculosis (TB) are responding well to treatment and are no longer infectious, so pose no onward risk.
“As a precaution, and in line with national guidance, we are offering testing to those who may have had closer contact with the affected individuals. The overall risk remains low.”
He further explained, “TB is fully treatable with antibiotics. We continue to work closely with Amazon to monitor the situation.”
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs and has historically been referred to as ‘consumption’.
Zarah Sultana, the Member of Parliament for Coventry South, criticized Amazon’s refusal to close the warehouse, labeling it ‘outrageous’ and comparing the working conditions to the ‘Victorian’ era.
She stated: “With multiple confirmed cases on site, the warehouse must be shut down immediately and workers sent home on full pay.
“This is a corporation that clearly thinks it’s above the law, forcing people into conditions that belong in the Victorian era. It’s a stark reminder of why the trade union movement was founded in the first place.”