Tuberculosis infection rate remains high in 2008

SEOUL, March 17 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Koreans who were diagnosed with
tuberculosis last year inched down but its infection rate remained high compared
with other countries, a report showed Tuesday.

According to the report by the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a
total of 34,340 people were newly diagnosed with tuberculosis last year, slightly
down from the previous year's 34,710.
The 2008 figure means that over 80 out of every 100,000 South Koreans were
infected with tuberculosis. The report showed that 32 percent of newly infected
patients were in their 20s and 30s.
In 2007, 2,376 people died from tuberculosis, according to the report. The
infection and death rates marked the highest among the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development countries.
Tuberculosis or TB, a bacteria-related disease that mainly attacks the lungs, is
one of the most infectious fatal diseases in the world, along with HIV and
malaria.
The disease control agency unveiled comprehensive measures in 2006 to gradually
root out the disease, mainly through boosting personnel and treatment facilities
across the nation.
Despite the efforts, the infection doesn't show signs of slowing down. After
falling to an annual new infection low of below 31,000 in 2003, the number has
been on the rise, with an additional 34,000 to 35,000 people diagnosed with the
disease annually in recent years.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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