Press Releases 2023

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26.06.2023

What is the impact of the war in Ukraine on the control of tuberculosis in the Baltic Region? 

Representatives of all countries with Baltic Sea shores, with the exception of the Russian Federation, met in the picturesque old Hanseatic city of Visby on the Swedish island of Gotland on the occasion of the conference "TB in the Baltic Region" from 19-20 June 2023. Gotland is located in the middle of the Baltic Sea and is equally accessible to almost all participants from the Baltic Sea neighboring countries. The conference was organized by the Clinical Tuberculosis Unit at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at the Research Center Borstel (Germany) together with the University of Uppsala (Sweden). Uppsala University maintains a satellite campus near the port of Visby where the conference was held. 

Together with the Head of the Tuberculosis Office of WHO European Region in Copenhagen, Dr. Askar Yedilbayev, the conference participants discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Baltic region. In addition to measures to prevent tuberculosis in migrants, new diagnostic methods, therapeutic regimes and innovative procedures to improve the treatment of affected patients were presented. A highlight was a science slam in which young scientists from the region reported on their ongoing research projects.

Professor Ulrika Simonsson from Uppsala and Professor Christoph Lange from Borstel, organizers of the conference, were very pleased with the international participation and the great interest. "Regional collaborations across national borders are key to combating tuberculosis and are essential for the elimination of this disease in low-incidence countries in Northern Europe in the coming years," explained Christoph Lange, Medical Director at the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center. "The collaboration of colleagues in the Baltic region is impressive. Even in difficult times, we are making progress together with the goal of eliminating tuberculosis." 

Contact:

Prof. Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Christoph Lange 
Medical Director, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lungcenter 
Professor for Respiratory Medicine & International Health, Lübeck University
Parkallee 35, 23845 Borstel
Germany
T +49 4537 188 3321/0
F +49 4537 188 6030
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