Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of illness in the world and the second most common cause of death from infectious disease. It is also the most common AIDS defining illness in Europe. Increasing public awareness of TB and the need for its control are suggested themes for this year's World TB Day, to be commemorated on Wednesday 24 March (http://www.stoptb.org/events/world_tb_day/2004). While infections such as SARS and influenza have dominated the popular media in recent years, owing to their novelty and "explosive" nature, TB continues to pose a serious threat, and over 65 000 TB cases (of which 76% were new) were notified in 2002, in the 25 countries of the enlarged European Union (EU). (Extrait)