[Epidemiology of tuberculosis in France]

Tuberculosis causes an ever-increasing public health burden throughout the world and is one of the World Health Organization's top priorities. In France, the incidence of tuberculosis has been stable at around 10 cases per 100 000 inhabitants per year since 1997. In 2004, the incidence rate in 2004 was 9.2 per 100 000, with substantial geographic disparities: the Ile-de-France region (including Paris and its suburbs) accounted for more than 40% of all reported cases (20.8 per 100 000). Incidence rates of tuberculosis vary according to the geographic origin: in France, this rate is highest among people from sub-Saharan Africa (incidence rate: 166.7 per 100.000 compared with 5.0 per 100.000 for those born in France). Pulmonary tuberculosis is the disease form most commonly observed (71.5% of cases). Among those cases, 76.9% were laboratory-confirmed in 2004. National guidelines to improve case management and disease control were updated in 2003 and 2005. Funding must be made available to reinforce tuberculosis surveillance and to conduct public health initiatives targeted at the populations most at risk.