Focus on Tuberculosis: Annual surveillance report - England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 2006

Synopsis

Focus on Tuberculosis is the first annual surveillance report that brings together surveillance information on the occurrence of tuberculosis in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland from multiple sources. It provides a comprehensive overview of current trends in the numbers of tuberculosis cases, drug susceptibility, treatment outcome, and outbreak surveillance.

The report is based on national surveillance of tuberculosis from 2000 to 2005 but has a particular emphasis on 2005 which is the most recent year for which complete data are available. The report provides a detailed picture of the disease in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland and examines recent trends. It provides a baseline for the assessment of the effectiveness of the measures being implemented to strengthen control of tuberculosis in this country.

The report is an important source of information for the public and professionals and gives an insight into the extent of the current problem with tuberculosis and the challenges that are yet to be met in controlling it.

Due to a technical error importing data, the increase in rifampicin mono-resistance reported for 2004 and 2005 is an artefact. Trends in multi-drug resistance, isoniazid and other first line drug resistance, as described in the original report, are unchanged.

Please download the additional Erratum which supplements the report Erratum - Focus on Tuberculosis: Annual surveillance report 2006 - England, Wales and Northern Ireland (PDF, 84 KB).

Additional information

Tuberculosis homepage

Last reviewed: 8 January 2010