The immigration has produced an increase in the TB rate in many developed countries. Even in the last years some countries of Europe has more TB cases in the foreign born people that in the indigenous population. However, in Spain the immigration has been a very little influence until the year 2000, may be because Spain has been the Western European country with less immigration and because the AIDS has influenced severity our epidemiology. The situation is changed in the 2000 year, probably because the immigration has increased a lot since this year. TB data about Cataluña, Madrid and Canarias are presented in this article and an estimation is done with the data of Canarias. All these data shows this little influence and the increase in the last year. Also, a reflection is done about if this TB come with these immigrants, or, in the contrary, the culpable is the very bad conditions that this population has in the developed countries. In any case, there are very good studied measures to control this factor, with simple intervention. But, it is very important that this intervention integrates and not excludes this population.

Immigration tuberculosis Epidemiology poverty

developed country Spain human tuberculosis Review Europe poverty disease transmission immigration