Search for killer TB carrier

2006-09-13 13:13

Johannesburg - The Gauteng health department on Wednesday sent out an ambulance in search of a patient diagnosed with the multi-drug resistant tuberculosis XDR-TB strain.

Spokesperson Zanele Zungu said the patient was diagnosed with the killer TB at Sizwe Tropical Diseases hospital in Edenvale.

"The patient was fully informed of the seriousness of the results of the culture that was performed and that re-admission was necessary. However, despite all efforts, the patient refused any further hospital admission and left for home," Zungu said.

She said the patient was a serious risk to public health and urgent steps had to be taken to contain the situation.

"While we recognise the rights of any patient to refuse hospital treatment, where there is a serious risk to public health, the department has evoked Section 7 of the National Health Act, No 66 of 2003 and Section 38 of the constitution, which limits the individual's rights in order to protect the public."

She said her department would carry out any interventions to contain the situation.

The Democratic Alliance called for a speedy diagnosis and infection control of the disease.

"We urgently need to find the XRD-TB infected young Johannesburg woman... She needs treatment, and every attempt must be made to stop her infecting others," DA spokesperson Jack Bloom said.

"It is estimated that one TB case infects 20 people on average, of which two would develop active TB."

He said the were over a million HIV-positive people in the province whose weakened immune system made them very susceptible to TB infection.

"If this gets out of control, it would be like fire spreading through dry veld," Bloom said.

- SAPA