Tuberculosis surveillance and monitoring in Europe 2013

This is fifth report launched jointly by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) following on from reports under the EuroTB project, established in 1996.

The 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target of halting the prevalence and death associated with tuberculosis (TB) and reversing its incidence has been partially achieved in 2011, with TB incidence falling in the Region at a rate of about 5% per year between 2000 and 2011. Nevertheless, the prevalence of TB was estimated at 56 cases per 100 000 population (about 500 000 prevalent cases) in the Region and TB mortality was 4.9 deaths per 100 000 population (around 44 000 in total). It will therefore not be possible to reach the target of 50% reduction by 2015.

In 2011, of an estimated 78 000 multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases in the European Region, 29 473 (38%) were detected. The prevalence of MDR among new TB cases in the Region amounted to 14% and 47.7% among previously treated cases. Testing coverage for resistance to second line drugs almost doubled compared to last year, however it is still at a very low level (9% of MDR-TB cases).

The WHO Regional Office for Europe has established the European Green Light Committee and the European Laboratory Initiative to help countries develop and/or adjust their national plans in response to the M/XDR-TB threat. This will help countries to reduce the proportion of MDR-TB cases among those previously treated by 20% detect 85% of estimated MDR-TB patients and successfully treat at least 75% of them.