WHO High TB Burden Country Classification
I cannot provide a definitive answer without knowing which specific country [LOCATION] refers to, as the WHO designates multiple countries as high TB burden based on specific criteria and regularly updates these classifications.
WHO High Burden Country Lists
The WHO maintains three distinct high-burden country lists, each containing 30 countries:
- High TB burden countries - based on absolute number of incident TB cases
- High TB/HIV burden countries - based on TB cases among HIV-positive individuals
- High MDR-TB burden countries - based on multidrug-resistant TB cases 1
Geographic Distribution of High Burden Countries
The countries with the highest absolute TB burden globally include:
- Seven countries account for approximately two-thirds of global TB cases: India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, South Africa, and Nigeria 2
- Eight countries collectively contribute to approximately two-thirds of global cases: India, Indonesia, China, Philippines, Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo 3
- Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest TB incidence rate at 356 new cases per 100,000 population per year 4
- Most countries of the former Soviet Union have estimated incidence rates exceeding 100 new cases per 100,000 population per year 4
Specific Country Examples from Evidence
Countries explicitly mentioned as high TB burden or with high incidence rates include:
- Mexico, Philippines, Vietnam, India, China, Haiti, South Korea, Somalia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Peru, El Salvador, and Honduras - these 14 countries accounted for 76% of TB cases among foreign-born persons in the United States during 1999-2002, with incidence rates ranging from 33/100,000 (Mexico) to 406/100,000 (Somalia) 4
- Belarus, South Africa, and Vietnam are mentioned as countries implementing WHO TB treatment guidelines 1
How to Determine High Burden Status
To determine if a specific country is designated as high TB burden:
- Check the WHO Global TB Report published annually, which lists all 30 countries on each high-burden list 5, 3
- Countries with incidence rates >100 cases per 100,000 population are generally considered high-risk populations for screening purposes 4
- The ECDC recommends screening for migrants from countries with TB incidence >120 cases/100,000 4
Please specify which country you are asking about, and I can provide a definitive answer based on WHO classifications.