Gestor bibliográfico Crisis y Salud

Each year, 24 March marks World Tuberculosis Day in an attempt to raise public awareness about the epidemic. The European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety will exchange their views on tuberculosis (TB) in Europe in a debate on 21 March 2012. In preparation of this debate concerns were raised about the effect of the current economic crisis on TB. Many countries in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) are in an economic recession. It is acknowledged that a recession or economic crisis can have an effect on the population’s health, especially with respect to infectious diseases [1]. There are two main mechanisms through which an economic crisis can have an effect on infectious diseases. Firstly, if due to a decrease in country and individual income, less money is spent on healthcare and social welfare. And secondly, if due to an increase in poverty and stress, the number of people belonging to risk groups for infectious diseases increases.