ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is a fascinating and complex disease. Its history is well detailed in the introductory chapter to this text. As the twentieth century draws to a close, it is appropriate to speculate on the future of tuberculosis in the new millennium. The past decade has witnessed remarkable changes, both favoring improved control and eventual elimination of this ancient disease and arousing fears that the epidemic will surely worsen in the decades ahead. In this chapter we will review these changes, both negative and positive, consider what mathematical models might tell us about TB in the future, speculate on the promise and potential impact of new technologies, and conclude with a discussion of the possibility of the elimination of tuberculosis.
