A total of 27,412 cases of tuberculosis were reported to CDC in
1981. This figure, considered a provisional total until final
corrected data for 1981 are received by the Tuberculosis Control
Division, represents a decrease of 2.0% (571 cases) below the 1980
provisional total. The 1981 provisional case rate is 12.0/100,000
population, 3.2% lower than in 1980. However, the 1980 provisional
data were based on a 53-week epidemiologic year, while the 1981
data
cover a 52-week period (1). Based on these provisional numbers,
the
final tuberculosis case count for 1981 is expected to be comparable
to
that for 1980.
Before 1979 the number of tuberculosis cases decreased at a
mean
annual rate of 4.2%. In 1979 the decrease was 3.0%, and in 1980,
the
number of cases increased 0.3%. The provisional data for 1981
suggest
that the secular trend that was previously downward, has leveled
off.
Reported by Tuberculosis Control Div, Center for Prevention Svcs,
CDC.
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