[Epidemiological review of tuberculosis].

Current situation of tuberculosis (TB) problem of the world and of Japan is reviewed in terms of epidemiology and control strategy. Globally, TB has been increasing in the human history as ever. Even in the industrialized countries it is now in upsurge as one of the "re-emerging diseases". However, it is expected that with the wider and quick coverage of the new policy of treatment of cases using "DOTS strategy", we could attain the historical breakthrough of TB within couple of years. Japan is also faced with threats of TB with its new features to which the Japanese national control programme has not experienced enough. If we succeed in reorienting its programme well responding to the new TB problem, we will be able to achieve the goal of TB elimination by 2060, but maybe never earlier than that.