Zeitschrift für Infektionskrankheiten und Therapie

Abstrakt

Midterm-stage Follow-up for Tuberculosis Infection along the Coastal Region of Northern Miyagi after the Great East Japan Earthquake

Masahiro Sakurai, Tatsuya Takahashi, Miyako Ohuchi, Yuki Terui, Akira Suzuki, Takao Saijyoh and Kazuo Shikano

During the early stage (2011-2012) after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the total number of tuberculosis (TB), pulmonary TB and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) patients significantly increased only in the coastal region of northern Miyagi, which was ravaged by a post-quake tsunami. Here, we investigated the midterm-stage follow-up (2013-2014) of TB infection in this region. Although the number of total TB, pulmonary TB, and LTBI cases had significantly decreased, their prevalence had not returned to the levels recorded in the pre-disaster period. These results suggest that the influence of the Great East Japan Earthquake remains. Thus, we believe that it is necessary to continue strict monitoring of TB in the coastal region of northern Miyagi.