Estimating tuberculosis burden: national reporting systems

Abstract

Estimating tuberculosis incidence, prevalence, and deaths are crucial to capture the tuberculosis burden and to assess the progress towards tuberculosis elimination in 2035. WHO publishes a report of estimated tuberculosis burden each year, showing that tuberculosis remains among the top ten causes of death worldwide.1 The estimates arise from data and information collected by several methods: surveillance systems, prevalence surveys, mortality surveys, inventory studies (to capture unreported detected tuberculosis), and expert opinion and consultation.