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03/07/2008 12:03 PM - (SA)
New technology developed to combat XDR TB
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A NEWLY launched Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis tool is to help the country’s health system to be able to diagnose drug resistant TB within seven days compared to the one currently used, which takes several months.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang launched the new diagnosis tool on Tuesday at the four-day South African TB Conference organised by the Foundation for Professional Development in Durban.
She said the new technology diagnosis followed a Southern African Development Community meeting hosted by South Africa where a regional Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) and Extreme Drug Resistant (XDR) TB plan was developed.
The plan called for accelerated efforts in research and development of new diagnostics and drugs for both sensitive and drug resistant TB, among other things.
“The reason for this is that successful prevention and treatment of multiple drug resistant-TB have been undermined by conventional drug susceptibility testing that is prone to difficulties and takes a long time before a diagnosis can be made,” she said.
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