Despite the discovery of the tubercle bacillus more than a hundred years ago, and all
the advances in our knowledge of the disease since then, tuberculosis still remains
one of the major health problems facing mankind, particularly in developing countries.
About one third of the World’s population is infected with M. tuberculosis. It is estimated
that currently there are about 9 million new cases of tuberculosis with 3 million deaths
worldwide. More people die of tuberculosis than any other infectious disease. Death
from tuberculosis comprises 25% of all avoidable deaths in developing countries. Ninety
five per cent of tuberculosis cases and 98% of tuberculosis deaths are in developing
countries and 75% of tuberculosis cases are in the economically productive age group1.
Geographically, the regions with the highest prevalence and infection rates are the eastern
fringe of Asia, the Indian subcontinent, the South eastern part of Africa, South-east Europe,
Central America and the Western part of the South America. The WHO has declared a
global emergency in 1993 with respect to reemerging menace of tuberculosis
