TUBERCULOSIS-CONTROL IN EUROPE AND INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION

This is a consensus-based position paper of a Task Force, comprising r epresentatives of nongovernmental and governmental organizations in th e European Region of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and the World Health Organization, on tuberculosis contro l in the countries of Europe and international migration. Tuberculosis among the foreign population entering European countries represents a n increasing and important proportion of all tuberculosis cases report ed in these countries. Adequate surveillance systems allow the identif ication of population segments at an excess risk of tuberculosis compa red to the general population. Among groups of foreigners with a risk considerably exceeding that of the general population, screening for t uberculosis and infection with M. tuberculosis yields a large number o f persons in many countries who can benefit from curative and preventi ve interventions. The Task Force recommends that European countries: 1 ) have notification systems based on both mandatory laboratory and phy sician reports of tuberculosis cases, to allow identification of popul ation segments at an excess incidence of tuberculosis compared to the general population; 2) consider screening of high incidence and preval ence groups among the entering foreign population for tuberculosis and infection with M. tuberculosis amenable to curative and preventive in tervention; 3) utilize existing governmental and nongovernmental organ izations to provide culturally and socially sensitive services to ensu re proper follow-up and implementation of interventions; 4) provide co mprehensive curative and preventive services to treat tuberculosis; an d 5) evaluate efficiency and efficacy of screening procedures on an on going basis.