In the Republic of Bulgaria, the adoption of a new National Tuberculosis Prevention Program for the period 2026-2030 is planned. The project, published on the website of the Ministry of Health for public discussion, includes measures such as early and rapid diagnosis, screening among vulnerable groups, timely treatment, training of medical professionals, and increased awareness among the population.
The financial plan for the program provides for 4,440,100 million euros, provided from the budget of the Ministry of Health.
Morbidity and Trends
Since 1998, there has been a sustained trend of decreasing tuberculosis morbidity in Bulgaria – from 49.9 per 100,000 population in 1998 to 13.7 per 100,000 in 2024.
According to World Health Organization data (2024), approximately 10.7 million people worldwide are diagnosed with tuberculosis, of whom 5.8 million are men, 3.7 million are women, and 1.2 million are children.
What is tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is a severe infectious disease that primarily affects the lungs but can also affect other organs. It is estimated that about a quarter of the world's population carries latent tuberculosis. Of these, about 10% develop active tuberculosis.
Symptoms
The symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis include cough with sputum (sometimes with blood), chest pain, shortness of breath, and a general feeling of weakness. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis can affect different parts of the body, with the most common location being the joints and bones.
Risk factors
The main risk factors for developing tuberculosis are alcohol consumption, smoking, immunosuppression, and malnutrition. There is also a risk for people affected by HIV, diabetes, cancer, or taking immunosuppressive drugs. Children, elderly people, people from countries with high morbidity, living in overcrowded spaces, and drug users are also at risk.
National Prevention Programs
The Ministry of Health conducts a long-term policy for tuberculosis prevention through the adoption and implementation of national programs. These programs are in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the WHO's End TB Strategy by 2035, and the WHO European Region Action Plan to reduce tuberculosis by 2030.