Monitoring tuberculosis in the WHO European Region

WHO/Europe monitors trends in tuberculosis (TB), HIV/TB coinfection and drug-resistant TB by strengthening surveillance systems and promoting the analysis, dissemination and use of related health data and information.

WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have jointly coordinated TB surveillance in the WHO European Region since 2008, ensuring data standardization and quality across the countries in the Region. They share the data submitted by the 53 Member States and produce annual reports on TB surveillance and monitoring in Europe.

The European TB surveillance network

The European TB surveillance network is composed of representatives of WHO/Europe and ECDC and country correspondents from Member States in the WHO European Region. It is jointly coordinated by WHO/Europe and ECDC.

European tuberculosis (TB) surveillance data

To ensure completeness of data and geographical coverage, WHO/Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) use a common entry point for the ECDC European Surveillance System (TESSy) and WHO’s global TB Database (TME).

The standard data collection form, to be completed by national health authorities, follows recommendations on TB recording and reporting from WHO, ECDC and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD). It includes information on:

• TB notification by previous treatment history, laboratory confirmation (sputum smear and culture results) and site of disease;
• the age and sex distribution of cases;
• HIV status and drug susceptibility results;
• the origin of cases, including TB in prisons;
• treatment outcome monitoring;
• national TB control policy and resource management.