TUBERCULOSIS-CONTROL IN EUROPE AND INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

This is a consensus-based position paper of a Task Force, comprising representatives of nongovernmental and governmental organizations in the European Region of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and the World Health Organization, on tuberculosis control in the countries of Europe and international migration. Tuberculosis among the foreign population entering European countries represents an increasing and important proportion of all tuberculosis cases reported in these countries. Adequate surveillance systems allow the identification of population segments at an excess risk of tuberculosis compared to the general population. Among groups of foreigners with a risk considerably exceeding that of the general population, screening for tuberculosis and infection with M. tuberculosis yields a large number of persons in many countries who can benefit from curative and preventive interventions. The Task Force recommends that European countries: 1) have notification systems based on both mandatory laboratory and physician reports of tuberculosis cases, to allow identification of population segments at an excess incidence of tuberculosis compared to the general population; 2) consider screening of high incidence and prevalence groups among the entering foreign population for tuberculosis and infection with M. tuberculosis amenable to curative and preventive intervention; 3) utilize existing governmental and nongovernmental organizations to provide culturally and socially sensitive services to ensure proper follow-up and implementation of interventions; 4) provide comprehensive curative and preventive services to treat tuberculosis; and 5) evaluate efficiency and efficacy of screening procedures on an ongoing basis.