World TB Day - 24th March 2008
World TB Day is held on March 24th each year and provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the international health threat presented by tuberculosis (TB). It is a day to recognise the collaborative efforts of all countries involved in fighting TB. TB can be cured, controlled, and with diligent efforts and sufficient resources, eventually eliminated.
The slogan for World TB Day 2008 is “I am stopping TB”. This year's World TB Day is about celebrating the lives and stories of people affected by TB: women, men and children who have taken TB treatment; nurses; doctors; researchers; community workers--anyone who has contributed towards the global fight against TB.
TB - The Facts
TB remains a leading cause of death worldwide with up to 9 million cases and 1.6 million deaths reported per year. It is a disease closely related to poverty and more than 80% of the infected cases live in developing countries.
In 2005, (the latest validated figures) there were 450 cases of TB reported in Ireland, a notification rate of 10.6 cases per 100,000 population. In 2006, there were 458 cases provisionally reported to HPSC, a notification rate of 10.8/100,000. The rate in the indigenous population was 8.3 per 100,000 in 2005 while the rate in foreign-born persons was 24.8 per 100,000. There has been a considerable decline in TB cases since the early 1950s when 7,000 cases of TB were notified annually.
More information on TB is available at:
Report on the Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Ireland 2005
The Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015
Stop TB Partnership World TB Day 2008