[Tuberculosis annual report 2010--(1) Summary of tuberculosis notification statistics in 2010].

Annual reports of tuberculosis (TB) statistics in Japan have been compiled mainly from the database of the nationwide computerized tuberculosis surveillance system, which has been in operation since 1987. This system has been revised several times. The latest revision was conducted in 2007, and much new information was added. This summary of tuberculosis notification statistics is the first report of a new series for the Tuberculosis Annual Report 2010. The statistics are summarized as follows: The TB notification rate fell below 20 per 100,000 in 2007 and continued to decline, reaching 18.2 in 2010. However, there were still 23,261 TB patients newly notified in 2010. For sputum-smear positive pulmonary TB, the patient count was 9,019, with an incidence rate of 7.0 per 100,000 in 2010. Since June 2007, it has been compulsory to notify patients with latent TB infections (LTBI) requiring treatment; the number notified in 2010 was 4,930.