Chiayi County completes latent tuberculosis screenings for 6,504 people

Chiayi County has announced significant progress in its tuberculosis (TB) prevention efforts, with two major projects completing screenings for 6,504 individuals with latent TB infections. The initiatives aim to support the goal of eliminating tuberculosis by 2035.

The ‘Alishan Township Free TB’ project focuses on indigenous areas where medical access is limited. Since its launch in 2020, the program has utilized mobile chest X-ray vehicles, remote physician interpretation, and rapid molecular testing to reach 15,244 people. This project identified two TB cases and completed screenings for 2,491 people with latent infections. Of those, 355 tested positive, and 301 have completed preventive treatment, achieving a cure rate of over 90%.

A second project targeting foreign spouses addressed language and cultural barriers through public-private cooperation. This initiative screened 4,013 individuals, identifying 659 positive cases. Of these, 531 received preventive treatment, and 440 completed their courses, resulting in an 83% cure rate.

Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang emphasized the shift from treating active disease to proactive screening and early intervention for latent infections to protect public health.