[The specific features of the tuberculosis epidemic situation in the Far North]

The major epidemiological parameters were analyzed in 7 autonomous districts of the Far North of Russia from 1975 to 2002. Throughout the period of observation, tuberculosis morbidity in native dwellers was 5 times higher or more than that in the newcomers and in 2002 it increased up to 292 per 100,000. The incidence of its bacterial forms in the natives was 7-9 or more times greater than that in the newcomers (this index was as high as 126.6 in 2002). The prevalence of tuberculosis accompanied by bacterial isolation in the indigenous dwellers was 7-9 or more times greater than that in the newcomers and ran up to 619.9. In the natives, mortality rates were almost 10 times higher than those in the newcomers. The bulk of the indigenous dwellers live in isolated inaccessible localities. In the indigenous dwellers, the multifold increase in the major indices, as compared to the normal values, was characteristic of the development of the epidemic situation in the Far North. The native dwellers determine the specific features of development of the epidemic situation in the region, thus requiring that special approaches to delivering antituberculous care should be developed.