Epidemiology of tuberculosis in Ireland 2010: a report by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre

B case notifications decreased in 2010 (n=420, rate 9.2/100,000) compared to 2009 (n=479, rate 10.4/100,000). This is the lowest crude notification rate recorded since TB surveillance began in 1998. • Regional variation was noted in TB notification rates (per 100,000) ranging from 4.7 in HSE West to 13.5 in HSE South. • The highest rates were reported by Dublin North Central and Dublin South City in HSE East and by North Cork and South Lee in HSE South. • The highest age ‐ specific rate occurred among those aged 65 years and older (14.8/100,000). • The age ‐ specific rate (per 100,000) among 55 ‐ 64 years olds decreased from 11.7/100,000 in 2009 to 5.6/100,000 in 2010. • Rates were higher in males for all age groups except for the 15 ‐ 24 year age group. The highest rates among males were in those aged 65 years and older and among females in those aged 15 ‐ 24 years. • In 2010, 40.7% of cases were born outside Ireland compared to 43.0% in 2009 and 43.3% in 2008. • There was a notable difference in age between cases born in Ireland (median age 49 years) and foreign born cases (median age 30 years). • In 2010, 270 (64.3%) of the TB cases had a pulmonary disease component of which 206 (76.3%) were culture positive and 111 (41.1%) were smear positive. • There were nine cases of TB meningitis notified (age range: 28 to 78 years). • Treatment outcome data were provided for 88.1% of cases. Treatment was reported as completed for 72.4% of total cases and for 71.2% of sputum smear positive cases notified. • There were 27 deaths reported (8 attributable to TB). • There were 26 drug ‐ resistant cases notified, including two MDR ‐ TB cases. There were no cases of XDR ‐ TB reported in 2010. Epidemiology of Tuberculosis in Ireland, 2010 Page 7 of 70 March 2013 • There were 424 cases of TB provisionally notified in 2011 which remains stable in comparison to 420 cases reported in 2010