Gyeongju City Launches "Tuberculosis Prevention Week" with Mobile Screenings for Early Detection

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The Gyeongju City Public Health Center has designated the week of March 22 to 28 as "Tuberculosis Prevention Week" in commemoration of the 16th Tuberculosis Prevention Day on March 24, aiming to raise public awareness and encourage early screening among citizens, and will implement intensive public health measures during this period.

During this prevention week, the city will conduct "mobile tuberculosis screenings" for approximately 160 members of vulnerable groups with limited access to healthcare.

Gyeongju City Public Health Center Tuberculosis Prevention Promotion Notice, Prevention Guidelines. Provided by Gyeongju City

In collaboration with the Korean National Tuberculosis Association, the public health center will visit day and night care centers and senior community centers, conducting on-site chest X-ray examinations to immediately identify individuals with suspected tuberculosis.

If the screening results indicate abnormalities or if symptoms such as coughing persist for more than two weeks, additional sputum tests will be performed to confirm the diagnosis, and close follow-up will be provided to ensure prompt treatment.

According to recent data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of new tuberculosis patients in Korea has been steadily decreasing, but continued vigilance is still required.

As of 2024, the number of new tuberculosis cases in Korea stood at 17,944, marking a decrease of approximately 8.2% from the previous year and maintaining a downward trend for the 13th consecutive year.

However, about 58% of all patients are aged 65 or older, making regular screening for older adults with weakened immune systems particularly important.

While the situation in Korea has improved significantly compared to the past, the country still ranks among the highest for tuberculosis incidence among OECD nations, necessitating ongoing management.

Tuberculosis is a legally designated Class 2 infectious disease that is transmitted through the air by the coughing or sneezing of infectious patients.

Because the early symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, diagnosis is often delayed, making early detection critical for a complete cure.

Since January of this year, the city has been conducting tuberculosis screenings for vulnerable groups every month, with an emphasis on initial screenings in the first half of the year and plans to actively encourage follow-up screenings for suspected cases in the second half.

Jin Byeongcheol, Director of the Gyeongju City Public Health Center, stated, "Tuberculosis is a disease that can be completely cured if detected early and treated consistently," and urged, "We ask all citizens to recognize the importance of screening during this prevention week and to participate actively."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.