Ganghwa County Launches Outreach Tuberculosis Screening Program

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Ganghwa County announced on the 9th that it will conduct an outreach tuberculosis screening program through November this year targeting residents aged 65 and older and those in elderly care facilities.

Tuberculosis is a Class 2 notifiable infectious disease transmitted through the air via coughing and conversation, and can easily develop in people with weakened immune systems.

In particular, elderly residents aged 65 and older often do not show typical tuberculosis symptoms such as coughing, phlegm, weight loss, and night sweats, making it difficult to detect tuberculosis early. Accordingly, the county urged residents aged 65 and older to receive free tuberculosis screening at the health center once a year.

The tuberculosis screening is conducted through chest X-ray imaging and diagnosis in collaboration with the Incheon Branch of the Korean Tuberculosis Association. Symptomatic individuals and those with abnormal findings on chest X-ray undergo additional sputum testing. Individuals diagnosed with tuberculosis receive intensive management including medication instruction, lifestyle counseling, and isolation measures.

An official from the county health center stated, "Through this outreach tuberculosis screening program, we will detect tuberculosis patients early and prevent transmission," adding "We will continue to do our best in tuberculosis prevention."