This week ECDC is joining its international partners to discuss the common goal of eliminating TB in Europe. The Week of Annual Meetings of European Tuberculosis Networks takes place in The Hague from 28 to 31 May.
Speaking this morning at the event, ECDC Director Marc Sprenger stressed that although TB is gradually decreasing in Europe, more than 72 000 cases were reported in 2011 in the EU and EEA. “We need to remain vigilant. TB in Europe needs to be taken seriously”, he emphasised.
This is the first time that the three European networks in TB surveillance, laboratory and prevention and control have come together for such an event.
The main theme of the meetings is the monitoring of the progress made in TB prevention and control efforts through the Pan-European and European Union action plans and monitoring frameworks (Berlin Declaration, Consolidated Action Plan to Prevent and Combat M/XDR TB in the WHO European Region 2011-2015, and the Framework Action Plan to Fight Tuberculosis in the European Union). In bringing together European TB experts at this event, ECDC is facilitating the exchange of experiences and promoting the discussion of the common goal of eliminating TB in Europe.
“The platform provides a good overview of what has been achieved but also tries to identify what additional efforts are needed to achieve the ultimate target to eliminate TB”, the ECDC Director said.
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Source: ECDC