An additional 233 tuberculosis patients were detected early last year through epidemiological investigations targeting family members and group facility contacts of TB patients. The TB incidence rate among family contacts was found to be approximately 17 times higher than that of the general population.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced Friday that it conducted epidemiological investigations on 100,124 family members and group facility contacts who spent extended periods in the same space as TB patients last year.
The survey identified 233 additional TB patients through chest X-rays and other TB screenings. The TB incidence rate among contacts stood at 232.7 per 100,000 people, approximately seven times the general population rate of 33.5.
The infection risk was particularly high among family contacts. Of 17,464 family contacts, 100 were identified as additional TB patients. The incidence rate was 572.6 per 100,000 contacts — about four times higher than that of group facility contacts (160.9) and approximately 17 times higher than the general population.
Among 82,660 group facility contacts, 133 additional TB patients were detected.
A significant number of latent TB infections were also identified. Separate testing of 55,827 close contacts diagnosed 13,797, or 24.7 percent, with latent TB.
Latent TB refers to a state in which a person has been infected with the TB bacteria but has not yet developed the disease. While it produces no symptoms and cannot be transmitted to others, it can progress to active TB if left untreated. The KDCA explained that treatment at the latent TB stage can prevent up to 90 percent of TB cases from developing.
Among family contacts, 15,722 underwent latent TB testing, with 4,296, or 27.3 percent, testing positive. Of 40,105 close contacts at group facilities, 9,501, or 23.7 percent, were confirmed as latent TB infections.
The KDCA urged that contacts who spent extended time in the same space as TB patients must undergo testing, given that TB is an airborne infectious disease.
Those notified by public health centers as TB patient contacts can receive free TB and latent TB testing at nearby public health centers or designated medical institutions. Treatment costs are also covered for those diagnosed with latent TB.
