The Algarve had 408 cases of tuberculosis between 2015 and 2019, as well as an incidence rate of 18,5 cases per 100 inhabitants during that period. Still, as happens across the country, this figure has been declining, since, if only the year 2019 is counted, when 70 cases were registered, the rate was 16 cases per 100 inhabitants.
The numbers were revealed this Wednesday, March 24, World Tuberculosis Day, in the Report on the Surveillance and Monitoring of Tuberculosis in Portugal for the years 2018/19, published by the General Directorate of Health.
According to this document, in 2018, the Algarve registered 87 cases of tuberculosis, which corresponded to an incidence rate of 19,8, but in the following year, with 70 cases registered, this rate dropped to 16.
Even so, this was the third highest incidence rate per 100 inhabitants among the regions of the country, just below Lisbon and Vale do Tejo (22,9) and North (19,8).
Alentejo appears in fourth position, with a rate of 10,7. It is followed by the Center (9,2), Madeira (5,9) and Azores (4,1).
By municipalities, in the Algarve, Alcoutim is a municipality with the highest incidence rate, at a level between 30 and 40 new cases per 100 inhabitants/year.
This is followed by the municipalities of Silves, Albufeira, Loulé and Olhão, with a rate between 20 and 30 new cases per 100 inhabitants.
Vila do Bispo, Lagos, Monchique, Portimão, Faro, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António are in the level between 10 and 20 cases and Aljezur, Lagoa and Castro Marim have the lowest incidence rate, with 0 to 10 cases per 100 inhabitants.
Nationally, according to the DGS, in 2018, 1886 cases of tuberculosis were reported and, in 2019, 1848 cases, corresponding to an incidence rate of, respectively, 18.4 and 18.0 per 100 thousand inhabitants.
According to the DGS, the annual decrease in the notification rate in the last five years is 3,9%/year.
By sex, nearly two-thirds of tuberculosis cases in 2018 and 2019 occurred in men (1258 of 1886 cases in 2018 and 1218 of 1848 cases in 2019).
The median age progressively increased until 2017, when it reached 50 years. In 2018, this indicator was 48 years old and, in 2019, 49 years old.
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