Extent of transmission captured by contact tracing in a tuberculosis high endemic setting

We have previously documented a high incidence of tuberculosis (TB) (>1000 per 100 000 inhabitants) and considerable Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission in East Greenland despite population-wide screenings implemented by the Greenland health authorities [1–5]. In Greenland, all contacts of TB patients are routinely screened for M. tuberculosis infection and TB. Individuals with newly acquired M. tuberculosis infection are offered 6 months of preventive isoniazid treatment. Despite the considerable resources spent on clinical examinations and preventive treatment over the years, TB incidence rates have remained high in East Greenland [1]. In a TB endemic setting >50% of culture-positive TB cases were likely infected via community acquired transmission The authors thank the hospital staff in Tasiilaq for identifying and treating TB patients, the National Board of Health for support and access to data, and laboratory staff at the IRLM and Forschungszentrum Borstel for DNA extraction, library preparation and WGS. All authors contributed to the conception and design of the study, the analyses of data and writing of the article.