Interventions in vulnerable groups are the key to eliminating tuberculosis in Europe

This short document gives an overview of why interventions among vulnerable groups are necessary and what can be done, with examples and data to give evidence of the points raised. It is intended to address policy makers when needing political commitment or funding for TB programmes.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease that although treatable, can be fatal. In 2014, it affected around 58 000 people in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA). The number of new TB cases is slowly decreasing by around 5% each year, but at this pace, the disease will not be eliminated in the near future. One challenge for elimination is the existence of pockets of TB in society, concentrated among the most vulnerable, such as the homeless, drug users, alcoholics and some migrant populations, who may be at higher risk of exposure, live in poor conditions or do not have access to
healthcare services.