An illness that has practically disappeared from most countries is now on the rise in the Dominican Republic. El Caribe is reporting that tuberculosis rates have increased, and that the death rate from TB is also up. The latest figures from the National Program for Tuberculosis Control (PNCT) reveal that the prevalence of tuberculosis in the Dominican population is at 49.2 cases per 100,000 people. However, PNCT epidemiologist, Dr. Belkis Marcelino told El Caribe that the mortality rate for people with TB is now at 57 per 100,000. Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization (PHO-WHO) statistics place the country at 85 cases per 100,000, one of the highest in Latin America. Figures for the four years between 2000 and 2003 show that, instead of diminishing, the TB rate is increasing in spite of millions of dollars spent on its eradication. The year 2000 saw 4,925 cases, of which 4,284 were new; in 2001, there were 4,867 cases, with 4,167 new cases. For 2002 there were 4,238 cases on the records, of which 3,682 were new. In 2003, there were 4,963 active case files and 4,276 were new ones. In 2003, 6% of the new cases were children under 14 years of age. According to PNCT head Dr. Juan Jose Cordero, tuberculosis itself is not on the rise, but rather the health system is identifying more cases. As he said, “more investigation equals more cases.” According to the doctor, in order for the country to control TB within 10 years, it needs to detect at least 70% of the estimated 8,000 cases that are estimated to exist and cure 85% of them. Dr. Cordero pointed that in the 925 health centers across the country, treatment for patients suffering from tuberculosis is absolutely free.