After a decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, last year marked “a change in trend”, with 4,728 cases declared, according to Public Health France.
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“Vigilance remains essential.” Tuberculosis, although it remains at a low level, saw a rebound in cases in France in 2023, according to a study published Tuesday March 19 by Public Health France (SPF), before World Tuberculosis Day, which will take place on March 24. Transmitted by air, tuberculosis is a highly contagious bacterial infection most often affecting the lungs, but can spread to the brain.
After the 5,114 cases recorded in 2019, there were “a sharp decrease in cases and the reporting rate the year the pandemic occurred [de Covid-19]“Then “the next two years”, summarizes SPF. The year 2023 saw “a change in trend, with an increase in incidence”, And 4,728 cases have been reported, according to provisional data. This figure is probably linked to “a catch-up of diagnosed cases”however, note the authors of the study.
Vaccination recommended but not obligatory
Recently dethroned by Covid-19 as the leading cause of death from infection in the world, tuberculosis continues to be problematic, despite vaccines and antibiotics. Its persistence in France, even with less than 10 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, means that the vaccine remains recommended there, without being obligatory.
The regular decline in reported cases and deaths in the country is sometimes interrupted by “limited and transitory increases” linked to external events, points out the study. The war in Ukraine, which caused a significant movement of refugees towards Western Europe, had an impact on the epidemic. France has therefore implemented active tuberculosis screening for certain refugees coming from Ukraine, one of the countries with the highest incidence in Europe.