Tuberculosis cases have increased in Switzerland in recent years. (archive picture)
Keystone
Tuberculosis cases are on the rise in Switzerland. This is probably due to the fact that more people from regions with a high incidence of tuberculosis are immigrating to Switzerland, as the Federal Office of Public Health told the Keystone-SDA news agency.
According to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), there has been no increase in cases of tuberculosis among people born in Switzerland.
According to the latest figures, 475 cases of tuberculosis have been reported to the FOPH since the beginning of the year. In the two previous years, there were 376 and 375 cases at the same time. This corresponds to an increase of around 26 percent.
According to the FOPH, however, experience shows that the number will continue to decrease due to negative confirmation tests. It is therefore not yet possible to conclusively determine whether there has actually been an increase of 26% in the current year.
Increase as early as 2023
However, the FOPH has already identified an increase in tuberculosis cases in 2023. Young migrants were particularly affected. According to the FOPH, older people are particularly affected among those born in Switzerland. Many of them were infected during their childhood, when tuberculosis was still more common in Switzerland.
Tuberculosis is caused by certain types of mycobacteria, most commonly Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Transmission occurs when a person suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis coughs up droplets containing bacteria, which then float in the air and are inhaled by others. Infection usually requires staying in the same room for hours.
There is a vaccination against tuberculosis. However, this is not available in Switzerland. According to the FOPH, tuberculosis can usually be treated well for months with special antibiotics. Without treatment, it is often fatal after a prolonged illness.