RKI Significant increase in new cases of tuberculosis

Robert Koch Institute: Increase in the number of cases of tuberculosis in 2014
Every year, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) publishes new figures on tuberculosis diseases in Germany, with a declining trend for years to come. Since 2013, however, there has been a renewed increase in the number of cases. "In 2014, a total of 4,488 Tu-ber-ku-lo-sen were registered, which corresponds to an incidence of 5.6 new cases per 100,000 one-woh-ner," reports the RKI. Almost four percent more people were suffering from tuberculosis than in the previous year.

The case numbers in 2014 are 3.9 percent higher than in the previous year (2013: 4,319 diseases, incidence: 5.3), according to the RKI communication. Thus, the numbers almost reached the level of 2008 (4,538 illnesses) and 2009 (4,442 illnesses). The number of deaths due to illness was 97 cases in 2014, corresponding to a mortality of 0.1 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. In children and young adults under the age of 25, no death was reported, according to the RKI. The annual report of the RKI is based on the over-the-top national reporting data and is intended to map the epidemiological situation to tuber-ku-lose in Germany.

The number of cases of tuberculosis in Germany increased in 2014 by more than five percent compared to the previous year. (Image: Henrie / fotolia.com)

Trend reversal in tuberculosis diseases
According to the RKI, the reporting data on tuberculosis show an increase in the number of cases for the second year in a row. "In 2013, the number of cases was 2.4 percent higher than in the previous year," says the RKI. Thus, an end to the long-term downward trend is achieved and it shows a further increase in the number of cases. According to the provisional data, this will continue in 2015 as well. (Fp)