Page 88 - 2022 Taiwan Health and Welfare Report

that supports pandemic prevention command and policy evaluation. The number of notifiable disease cases in 2021 is shown in Appendix II.
The goal of epidemiological investigations is to immediately grasp the development of epidemics as well as learn about modes of transmission and sources. These processes aim to identify the cause of disease spread soon as possible and formulate response strategies, in order to effectively prevent epidemics from spreading. In 2021, there were 921 suspected clusters.
Chapter 2 Control of Major/Emerging Communicable Diseases
▏Section 1 Tuberculosis
For the prevention strategies of tuberculosis, other than reinforcing the checkups of contacts and reported cases, the MOHW has promoted new diagnostic techniques and introduced new medicine in order to shorten the tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment period and raise the treatment coverage of latent tuberculosis infection. The outcomes achieved in 2021 are as follow:
1. In 2021, the number of confirmed cases of tuberculosis was 7,062, with a national TB incidence rate of 30 cases per 100,000 population. Since 2005, the incidence rate has fallen by 59% (Figure 6-2), indicating that Taiwan has an effective TB control strategy.
2. More than 98% of bacteriologically positive TB patients have participated in the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course(DOTs) Program. Implemented the "DR-TB Consortium," patients in the 2019 cohort treated under a dedicated medical treatment and care system had a 24-month treatment success rate of 67%.
3. The Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment (LTBI) program has been implemented in conjunction with the Directly Observed Preventive Therapy (DOPT) program. The number of people undergoing LTBI testing was 84,182. 10,882 people underwent LTBI treatment, 86% agreed to receive treatment, and the higher treatment rates reflect more effective reduction incidence for high risk groups in the future.
4. Improved contact investigation to an average of 12 contacts for each index TB case to lower the risks of further transmission. For active case finding, the MOHW identified 338 TB cases by active TB screening using chest X-rays in 2021.
Figure 6-2
Reported TB Cases, 2005 - 2021
New Cases
20,000 18,000 16,000 14,000 12,000 10,000
8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Year Source : Taiwan Centers for Disease Control
73
16,472
75
70
65
60
55
50
45
40
33
30 35
30
Incidence Rate (per 100,000 population)
8,732
7,823
37
7,062
25 00
86