Epidemiology and control of tuberculosis in Israel

This review of the epidemiology and control of tuberculosis (TB) in Israel, covering the period from shortly before 1948 until the end of 1992 give a historical perspective to the TB situation and the various methods of control at different times. The effect of arrival in Israel of groups of immigrants from countries with a high prevalence of TB on the incidence in the host population is considered.

Data from unpublished reports and those published in Israel and abroad. Much data which was available form the Central TB Register of the Department of Epidemiology of the Ministry of Health was analyzed by the author during the time he was responsible for tuberculosis in Israel. Some of the data has been updated and presented here for the first time.

With the mass immigration to Israel in the early 1950s, including many cases of active TB, there was a steep rise in the number of reported cases. Special services were developed. The TB rate dropped rapidly, and although there were later occasional peaks due to special immigrant groups, this did not appear to cause any serious increase in the TB incidence in the host population.

TB control measures in Israel have passed through several phases and demonstrate the value of various methods which have to be changed according to the epidemiological situation.