To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Assessment of the Worldwide Status of Tuberculosis URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/362C2.htm Doctor's Guide August 29, 1997
LONDON -- August 29, 1997 -- Tuberculosis is a curable disease, but is still the infectious disease that causes more deaths among adults worldwide than any other. In The Lancet, Dr Mario Raviglione and colleagues, for the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Surveillance and Monitoring Project of tuberculosis, report the findings of a worldwide survey of tuberculosis control. In 1996, the investigators sent forms requesting information about tuberculosis control-programme policies, case notifications during 1995, and treatment results for 1994 to 216 countries. 180 countries, areas, and territories replied, covering 98% of the world's population. In 1995, WHO was notified about 3.3 million new cases of tuberculosis. The investigators estimate that this might be only about 45% of the true number of new cases for this period. Up to 23% of the world's population were living in areas in which the WHO tuberculosis control strategy, including diagnostic and treatment services, was available. Although control programmes achieve higher cure rates, their impact on a worldwide scale is modest and wider continuous coverage is needed. The investigators suggest that intensified technical and financial assistance around the world may increase the rates of case detection and treatment success, and simultaneously improve the quality of information available about tuberculosis control programmes. "Better information," they conclude, "will, in turn, allow a better assessment of the achievements of national tuberculosis programmes, ultimately challenging countries to improve their control efforts." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.