[The incidence of tuberculosis in Poland and other E.U. countries and the Russian Federation, Belarus and Ukraine: implications for prophylactic activities].

Over the last 50 years, the number of new cases of tuberculosis (TB) has dropped significantly in the native population of several industrialized countries, while at the same time the steady increase in TB incidence was noted in Polish residents born elsewhere. Since Poland is facing an increase in the number of foreigners applying for permanent or long-term residence permit, the evaluation of potential impact of this situation on TB incidence in our country seems necessary. Based on the recent WHO data, TB incidence in Poland, fifteen old and twelve new European Union members, which joined the Union in 2004 and 2007 as well as in three neighbor countries, was compared.