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In 2022, 635 people in the Netherlands were diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB Tuberculosis (Tuberculosis)). This is 6 percent less than in 2021 (673 patients). This decline is consistent with the trend over the past twenty years that fewer and fewer people in the Netherlands have tuberculosis.
In 2020, the number of TB patients fell more sharply than in previous years. From March 2020 to May 2022, corona measures were in place in the Netherlands, such as keeping your distance or having less contact with other people. This probably made it easier for the TB bacteria to spread. Another reason was the decline in the number of immigrants and asylum seekers in the Netherlands due to global travel restrictions in 2020.
Tuberculosis is more common in people who were not born in the Netherlands; in 2022, this was the case for 4 out of 5 sick people. Most came from Eritrea (70), followed by Morocco (59) and Somalia (36). Tuberculosis is common in Africa and Asia.
The infectious disease tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium and can be contagious. Of the 635 TB patients in 2022, more than 60 percent had tuberculosis in the lungs, the remaining patients had tuberculosis outside the lungs. A quarter of all patients had the most contagious form (open tuberculosis).
If a person is infected with the bacteria but does not (yet) have tuberculosis, this is called a tuberculosis infection. By detecting a tuberculosis infection early, people can be treated before they become ill. This ensures that fewer people get tuberculosis. In 2022, almost 1,200 people with tuberculosis infection were reported (in addition to the 635 people who were ill). More than a quarter was found through sources
contact investigation in the environment of a TB patient. A third was detected by testing newcomers from countries where tuberculosis is common.
Every year, the RIVM reports the figures on tuberculosis and tuberculosis infection to see what effects measures have to reduce tuberculosis in the Netherlands. These measures are described in the National tuberculosis control plan 2021-2025.
Abstract
In 2022, 635 tuberculosis (TB) patients were notified in the Netherlands. This is six per cent fewer than in 2021, when there were 673 patients. This decline is consistent with the downward trend in TB cases in the Netherlands over the past 20 years.
In 2020 patient numbers fell more sharply than in the years prior. Between March 2020 and May 2022, coronavirus measures including social distancing and less contact with others were in effect in the Netherlands. This most likely mitigated the spread of the TB bacterium. Another mitigating factor was the decline in the number of immigrants and asylum seekers who came to the Netherlands in 2020 as a result of global travel restrictions.
TB is more prevalent among those not born in the Netherlands. In 2022, this was the case for four out of every five patients. Most patients were born in Eritrea (70), followed by Morocco (59) and Somalia (36). TB is widespread in Africa and Asia.
TB is an infectious and potentially contagious disease caused by a bacterium. Of the 635 patients who had TB in 2022, more than 60 per cent had pulmonary TB and the remaining patients had extrapulmonary TB. A quarter of all patients had the most contagious type (open TB).
People who have become infected with the bacterium but have not developed TB (yet) are said to have contracted a TB infection. Early detection of TB infections makes it possible for these people to be treated before they become ill. This, in turn, prevents the TB from spreading to other people. In addition to the 635 people who became ill in 2022, almost 1,200 people were reported to have contracted a TB infection. More than a quarter of these people was traced using source and contact tracing among those known to have been in close contact with a TB patient. A third were traced by testing new arrivals from countries were TB is widespread.
RIVM reports the number of TB cases and TB infections each year in order to monitor the effect of measures to reduce the incidence of TB in the Netherlands. These measures are described in the National Tuberculosis Control Plan 2021–2025.
2023-11-28 08:58:49
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