Despite 4% decline in EU/EEA TB cases, challenges remain in achieving targets

A joint ECDC – WHO report released on 24 March 2020 shows an overall decline of 4% in the number of notified tuberculosis cases between 2014 and 2018 in the EU/EEA countries. Although this is evidence of improvement, the treatment success rates for new and relapse cases, as well as for patients with drug-resistant TB are still below regional and global targets. Improvements can be achieved through, for example, better management of latent TB as a preventative measure against active TB, says ECDC.