Demographic features and trends in tuberculosis cases in the European Region, 1995-2005

In 2005, 426,457 tuberculosis (TB) cases were notified in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region, with a wide variation and an incremental west-to-east gradient in notification rates also reflected in TB mortality rates. In the enlarged European Union ('EU-27') and other western countries--where 19% of cases were of foreign origin in 2005 (>50% in 13 countries)--overall TB notification rates decreased by 2.4% yearly between 2000 and 2005, compared to 1.6% in 1995-2000, reflecting a declining incidence in all age groups and in most countries. Half the cases notified by the 12 ex-republics of the former Soviet Union in the East in 2005 were reported by the Russian Federation. In the East, the mean annual increase in 1995-2000 (10.0%) was higher than in 2000-2005 (3.9%), and in recent years the number of new cases stabilised while previously treated cases have increased. Efforts are still needed to improve and standardise TB surveillance across the Region. The collection of additional data on risk factors of TB may be useful for surveillance and control.