title: Global epidemiology of tuberculosis.
abstract: Despite the availability of effective chemotherapy, tuberculosis (TB) killed 1.3 million people in 2012. Alongside HIV, it remains a top cause of death from an infectious disease. Global targets for reductions in the epidemiological burden of TB have been set for 2015 and 2050 within the context of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and by the Stop TB Partnership. Achieving these targets is the focus of national and international efforts in TB control, and showing whether or not they are achieved is of major importance to guide future and sustainable investments. This article provides a short overview of sources of data to estimate TB disease burden; presents estimates of TB incidence, prevalence, and mortality in 2012 and an assessment of progress toward the 2015 targets for reductions in these indicators based on trends since 1990 and projections up to 2015; analyzes trends in TB notifications and in the implementation of the Stop TB Strategy; and considers prospects for elimination of TB after 2015.
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Glaziou
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sismanidis
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Floyd
authors.affiliation: HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria, World Health Organization, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raviglione
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D017281:Cost of Illness; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015995:Prevalence; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014944:World Health Organization