2024-03-15 10:39:01
The number of tuberculosis cases in Germany also increased last year. As the RKI announced, almost 4,500 cases of the disease were reported.
The number of tuberculosis cases in Germany also increased last year. As the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Thursday in Berlin, a total of 4,481 cases of the disease were reported in 2023. After 3,931 cases in 2021 and 4,082 cases in 2022, this was a new increase.
RKI attributes increase to immigration
The number of cases in which the tuberculosis bacteria were resistant to the drugs used also increased last year. A total of 208 such cases were registered. The RKI attributes this primarily to the immigration of people from Ukraine. Tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis are much more common there than in Germany. You can find more information about tuberculosis here.
Tuberculosis cases in Germany had already increased in 2015 and 2016 after many years of decline. After that, the number of cases initially decreased again or stagnated, which was probably also related to the reduced international mobility during the corona pandemic.
Tuberculosis is still a serious disease
RKI President Lars Schaade said on the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24th that tuberculosis is “internationally, but also in Germany, still a disease of great relevance to public health.”
In most cases, tuberculosis can be cured with medication. People who have close, prolonged or repeated contact with people with open pulmonary tuberculosis are primarily at risk of infection. The transmission of tuberculosis pathogens is facilitated by cramped living conditions, poor room ventilation and late diagnosis.