The annual incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in Malta has remained low, at <20 per 100 000 population per year. However, TB notification among vulnerable groups is on the rise and is a matter of public health concern. We measured the TB notification rate, which ranged from 470 to 880/100 000 among migrant boat arrivals 1 year after arrival, highlighting the need to maintain high treatment success rates. Early case detection and high treatment success were observed due to post-arrival screening; however, the need for pragmatic, patientfriendly approaches that will encourage self-referral and access to treatment among migrant groups could play a significant role in preventing the re-emergence of TB in low-incidence settings. © 2018 The Union.

TB Cohort Malta Migrants

descriptive research mass screening health care policy human statistics and numerical data priority journal Aged ethnology Young Adult Humans migrant lung tuberculosis Treatment Outcome Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants Tuberculosis, Pulmonary female patient referral tuberculosis Socioeconomic Factors Review Africa socioeconomics Incidence Disease Notification Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult isoniazid health care access cohort analysis disease re-emergence ethambutol drug resistance Malta retrospective study rifampicin pyrazinamide