The Health Bureau (SSM) Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Center announced plans to introduce tongue-swab screening in the second half of 2026, targeting seniors and individuals who have difficulty providing sputum samples.
The initiative aims to identify tuberculosis infections or latent cases early, especially among high-risk groups.
Yesterday marked World Tuberculosis Day. Dr. Chou Kwok Hei, director of the Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Center, said Macau’s tuberculosis incidence has been steadily declining.
In 2025, the city reported 258 TB cases, equivalent to 37.5 per 100,000 people. However, this remains far from the World Health Organization’s 2035 target of fewer than 10 cases per 100,000 people.
Dr. Chou said that raising awareness and promoting early testing and treatment among both citizens and healthcare workers will be critical in reducing transmission over the next decade.
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease, and symptoms such as a persistent cough lasting more than two weeks, sputum or blood in coughs, unexplained weight loss, or night sweats should prompt immediate testing. Current methods include the tuberculin skin test, blood or sputum testing, and chest X-rays.
Dr. Chou noted that more than 60% of tuberculosis cases last year were in people over 65, highlighting the risk of latent infections becoming active as the body weakens.
