[Forecast about number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis 2001 - 2010].

Objective: To forecast the number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in 2010.

Methods: A mathematical model was established based on the nationwide epidemiological survey on tuberculosis conducted in 2000 so as to forecast the numbers of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in 2000s.

Results: (1) The number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis would be a little more than that in 2000, with the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate rho of 0.26 being adopted. (2) The number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis would be smaller than that in 2000, with the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate rho of 0.30 being adopted. (3) If the current intervention strategy manages to keep the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate at the level of 0.35, the decline in number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis will approach the goal set by the national program that the number of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis be decreased by 50%.

Conclusion: The goal set by the national program can be achieved only when the pulmonary tuberculosis case detection rate reaches 0.35.