▲ Early Detection of Tuberculosis Patients
▲ Patient Treatment Management
▲ Comprehensive Efforts to Prevent Community Transmission
Mobile Screening for Seniors, Young Adults, and Youth...
Active Identification of Latent Tuberculosis Cases
After declining during the COVID-19 pandemic, the global incidence rate of tuberculosis has shifted to an upward trend. As of 2023, South Korea ranks second among OECD member countries in tuberculosis incidence, with 58.1% of new domestic tuberculosis patients being seniors aged 65 and older.
In response, Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) is supporting the healthy lives of its residents by preventing infection and spread through continuous tuberculosis prevention activities and patient management.
This year, the district has set goals in four key areas: ▲early detection and prevention of tuberculosis patients ▲treatment management of tuberculosis patients ▲blocking transmission through contact management ▲tuberculosis prevention promotion and education, aiming to create a “Tuberculosis-Free Healthy Gwanak-gu.”
In particular, to detect tuberculosis patients early, including those with latent tuberculosis infection who are infected with the tuberculosis bacteria but show no clinical symptoms or infectiousness, the district is promoting a “Mobile Tuberculosis Screening” program.
Screenings will be conducted by visiting local community centers, day care centers, and senior welfare centers directly, targeting high-risk groups such as seniors aged 65 and older and the homeless. Additionally, a “Mobile Youth Health Screening” for young adults and single-person households who find it difficult to manage their health is planned for the second half of the year.
Furthermore, “Student Mobile Screening” for 11th and 12th graders, who are not covered by school health screenings, will be conducted within schools, divided into the first and second halves of the year.
After screening, individuals suspected of having tuberculosis will receive support for follow-up care, including treatment, additional testing, or referrals to hospitals and clinics.
On the 25th, the district held a “Tuberculosis Prevention Awareness Campaign” at Gwanaksan Park. This campaign, organized to raise awareness of the importance of tuberculosis prevention and encourage regular screenings, conveyed messages to residents such as “Get a tuberculosis test if you have a cough lasting more than two weeks” and “Seniors aged 65 and older should get a tuberculosis test once a year.”
Mayor Park Junhee stated, “Early detection and prompt treatment are paramount in tuberculosis control. We will continue to do our best to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in the community through active screenings and protect the health of our residents.”
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