Today the World Health Organization (WHO) released its fifth annual report on global TB control. In the report, WHO estimates that there were 8.4 million new tuberculosis cases worldwide in 1999, up from the 8.0 million estimated in 1997.
Last year’s global increase is due largely to a 20% increase in incidence in African countries most affected by the epidemic of HIV/AIDS. If present trends continue, 10.2 million new cases are expected in 2005, and Africa will have more cases than any other WHO Region.