The prevalence of tuberculosis among juveniles and young adults is nowadays quite low. But these age groups are particularly endangered when working in the public health field. First-infection with tuberculosis and tuberculosis as an illness among medical personnel must be considered to be an occupational disease if tuberculosis infection had not been present previously and no infective source outside the medical professional setting can be demonstrated. Selective BCG immunisation should be required for their own protection among all persons working in the public health field.