The global tuberculosis situation - Progress and problems in the 20th century, prospects for the 21st century

After decades of decline, tuberculosis (TB) staged a worldwide comeback in the latter part of the 20th century. The worldwide failure of TB control programs, combined with the HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome pandemic, led to marked increases in TB morbidity and mortality, complicated further by the spread of multidrug resistance. Nevertheless, a highly cost-effective strategy has been developed to control TB, even in the least developed countries, and large-scale implementation has begun. Until a highly effective vaccine is developed, global efforts must focus on mobilizing political and economic resources to expand and strengthen this internationally recommended TB control strategy.