IGRAs are increasingly being considered for the diagnosis of LTBI, as a replacement to the TST, including travel medicine. As with the TST, many uncertainties remain with regard to the efficacy of the IGRAs. It is therefore essential to secure an accurate understanding of these assays‘ known efficacy, so that they be optimally used and only in context with proven effect.

In a recent scientific article (Udwadia, F et al. Clin. Infect. Dis. 2011, Dec 21, Eprint) four cases of so-called total drug resistant tuberculosis (TB) were reported from India.

On 28 December 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved bedaquiline, a new diarylquinoline antimycobacterial drug, as part of combination therapy to treat adults with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) when other alternatives are not available.

​The European Medicines Agency has recommended marketing authorisations for three new drugs used for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

​​Marked each year on 24 March, World Tuberculosis Day gives the occasion to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) and to advocate more efforts to eliminate it. ECDC has launched the latest surveillance data and materials on interventions addressing vulnerable groups.

​Chlamydia infection, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis,  gonorrhoea and tuberculosis were the most commonly reported notifiable  infectious diseases in the EU and EEA in 2014.

​New data released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and WHO/Europe ahead of World TB Day show that an estimated 340 000 Europeans developed tuberculosis (TB) in 2014, corresponding to a rate of 37 cases per 100 000 population.

​An estimated 360 000 Europeans developed tuberculosis (TB) in 2013 – 1 000 people on a daily basis.

​Over 1 000 patients are estimated to fall sick with tuberculosis (TB) every day across Europe – or more than 380 000 yearly – signalling that there is no room for complacency when it comes to TB prevention and control.

A new report, Tuberculosis surveillance in Europe 2009, a joint publication from ECDC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe to mark World Tuberculosis Day 2011, provides evidence for concern about the spread of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) and the persistence of TB among children.