Tuberculosis Rates Decline for 13th Consecutive Year

South Korea has demonstrated remarkable progress in combating tuberculosis (TB), with patient numbers decreasing for the 13th consecutive year. Recent data indicates a notable drop of over 8% in TB cases last year alone. This sustained decline reflects the effectiveness of ongoing national tuberculosis management projects.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) released its 2024 report on TB cases, coinciding with the annual Tuberculosis Prevention Day. The report reveals a total of 14,412 new TB patients and 3,532 cases of recurrence. This represents an 8.2% decrease from the 19,540 cases reported in 2023.

Since the establishment of the national tuberculosis surveillance system in 2011, the country has witnessed an average annual decrease of 7.6% in TB cases. Compared to 2011 figures, the number of TB patients has plummeted by 35.5%.

The Elderly: A Vulnerable Population

Despite the overall decline, a concerning trend persists: the high proportion of elderly individuals affected by TB. In the past year, nearly 59% of all domestic TB patients were aged 65 or older.While the absolute number of elderly patients decreased by 6.9% from 11,139 in 2023 to 10,345 last year, their share of the total patient population actually increased by 0.8 percentage points.

The incidence rate among the elderly is notably alarming. For every 100,000 individuals aged 65 or older, approximately 105.8 are diagnosed with TB. This is roughly six times higher then the rate of 18.0 per 100,000 in those under 65. This disparity highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect this vulnerable demographic.

Foreign Nationals and Drug-Resistant TB

The proportion of TB patients who are foreign nationals also saw a slight increase, rising by 0.3% to reach 6.0% of the total cases last year. While the number of foreign patients decreased from 1,107 in 2023 to 1,077, this demographic requires continued monitoring and culturally sensitive healthcare approaches.

Pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for the majority of cases (78.5%), with 14,095 individuals affected. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, affecting organs other than the lungs, was diagnosed in 3,849 patients (21.5%). The number of patients with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis, a particularly challenging form of the disease, decreased by 16.3% from 551 to 461.

Government Initiatives and Future Strategies

The KCDC has implemented a comprehensive tuberculosis management plan since 2023, focusing on a cyclical approach to prevention, detection, and treatment. Last year, approximately 187,000 “visiting tuberculosis screening projects” were conducted, targeting vulnerable populations such as the elderly and the homeless, who frequently enough face barriers to accessing medical care. These efforts led to the early detection of 133 TB cases.

Furthermore, the Tuberculosis Epidemiology Investigation Team identified 250 patients through contact tracing within group facilities, including families. The KCDC has also launched customized integrated management projects, providing TB patients with comprehensive support, including diagnosis, medication management, social welfare service linkage, and professional treatment.

Looking ahead, South Korea plans to increase investment in utility technology progress to further combat tuberculosis. This includes research into shorter treatment methods to alleviate the burden of long-term medication, and also the development of high-risk prediction models for early detection of multi-drug-resistant TB.

despite the increase in tuberculosis patients, Korea has maintained a decrease in tuberculosis patients for 13 consecutive years by carrying out the national tuberculosis management project.
Ji Young-mi, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

conclusion

South Korea’s sustained efforts in tuberculosis control have yielded impressive results, but challenges remain.Addressing the disproportionate impact on the elderly and continuing to refine strategies for early detection and treatment of drug-resistant TB are crucial for further progress. by investing in research, strengthening public health initiatives, and targeting vulnerable populations, South Korea can continue to lead the way in the global fight against tuberculosis.