[Control priorities in tuberculosis in the endemic stage].

The author derives the consequences of his study for tuberculosis control in FRG from the statement, that the self-eradication of tuberculosis will begin, when a lower number of new sources of infection will be produced by the actually existing infectious cases. Self-eradication may be accelerated by measures of control, above all by chemotherapy, nevertheless, the epidemiological regular course will not be broken but the transition from tuberculosis epidemic to endemic will occur only quicker. The trend of tuberculosis in the different areas, countries, and counties of the FRG is being investigated by comparing the dates of the years 1894/97, 1977, and 1980. The development is characterized by a west-east-trend of the disease and by the formation of centres of relatively higher frequency. Consequences for the future tuberculosis control are drawn emphasizing it in the still existing areas of relative accumulation.