WHO issues 2010 Global Tuberculosis Control Report

11 November 2010 - Berlin/Geneva -The World Health Organization today issued its most comprehensive report ever on the progress being made in combating the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. The publication contains the very latest data, and for the first time also includes online profiles from 212 countries and territories The report is also available here from 11am GMT today.

"The findings in the Global Tuberculosis Control 2010 publication confirm that when WHO's best practices are put in place, and with the right amount of funding and commitments from governments, we can turn the tide on the TB epidemic," said Dr Mario Raviglione, Director of the WHO Stop TB Department. "Since 1995, we have seen considerable improvements in the quality of TB care, and these improvements are having a positive impact in some of the world's poorest countries. Since 1995, 41 million people have been cured and 6 million lives have been saved. These are major successes that have been achieved largely without any 'magic bullet'.

"However, with 1.7 million people dying from tuberculosis last year - including 380 000 women, many of whom were young mothers - these successes are far too fragile. No government is doing too much in TB. Commitments are being short-changed. If governments are genuinely committed to stopping TB, they must seize all the opportunities that are available right now and all the opportunities that may come in the near future."

Among the successes highlighted in the report are:

Major challenges still exist:

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