History of tuberculosis and tuberculosis control program in Turkey

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is debatably the most infectious disease with highest rate of causalities throughout human history. The Ottoman Empire also had the profound effect of the disease; however, following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 effective TB control programs were implemented at times jointly with the WHO. From 1949 onwards, significant reduction in disease incidence and death rates in Turkey was recorded due to the significant efforts of the state and civil established Tuberculosis Associations. These successful Turkish control programs as well as the history of TB and the current global challenges related to the re-emergence of this deadly disease will be communicated in this article.