WHO meeting on Drug-resistant tuberculosis

[Guest guest]

Drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis spark concern from UN health

agency

5 September 2006 – The World Health Organization (WHO) today

expressed concern about the emergence of virulent strains of

tuberculosis (TB) that are virtually untreatable with existing drugs

and called for the strengthening of prevention measures.

Extensive Drug Resistant TB (XDR-TB) is resistant to not only the two

main first-line TB drugs – isoniazid and rifampicin – but also to

three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs.

Recent findings from a survey conducted by WHO and the US Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that XDR-TB has been

identified in all regions of the world but is most frequent in the

countries of the former Soviet Union and in Asia.

" XDR-TB poses a grave public health threat, especially in populations

with high rates of HIV and where there are few health care

resources, " said WHO in a statement issued in Geneva.

Separate data on a recent outbreak of XDR-TB in an HIV-positive

population in Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa found alarmingly high

mortality rates, said WHO. 52 out of 53 patients identified with XDR-

TB died within 25 days on average, including those benefiting from

antiretroviral drugs.

WHO noted that its recommendations for managing drug-resistant

strains of TB include strengthening basic TB care, ensuring prompt

diagnosis and treatment of drug resistant cases, increasing

collaboration between HIV and TB control programmes, and boosting

investment in laboratory infrastructure.

On Thursday, WHO will join other TB experts at a two-day meeting in

Johannesburg, South Africa, to assess the response required to

critically address TB drug resistance, particularly in Africa.

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?

NewsID=19727 & Cr=tuberculosis & Cr1=