Modern History of Tuberculosis in Korea.

Abstract

Tuberculosis has been a major public health threat in modern Korea. A few reports from the mid-1940s have demonstrated a high prevalence of latent and active tuberculosis infections. The high disease burden urged the newly established government to place a high priority on tuberculosis control. The government led a nationwide effort to control tuberculosis by building dedicated hospitals, conducting mass screening, providing technical and material support for microbiological diagnosis, administering Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination, and improving appropriate antibiotic treatment through public health centers. Such concerted efforts resulted in a gradual decrease in the disease burden of tuberculosis, as demonstrated by National Tuberculosis Prevalence Surveys and notifiable disease statistics. While great progress has been made, new challenges - including an aging population, outbreaks in schools and healthcare facilities, and migration from high-prevalence countries - lie ahead. Here, we review the modern history of tuberculosis in Korea, focusing on epidemiology and public health policies.

• Authors: Jae Hoon Song, Kyungmin Huh, Doo Ryeon Chung
• Journal: Infection & chemotherapy (Infect Chemother) Vol. 51 Issue 4 Pg. 414-426 (Dec 2019) ISSN: 2093-2340 [Print] Korea (South)
• PMID: 31782276 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 by The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, Korean Society for Antimicrobial Therapy, and The Korean Society for AIDS.