Deadly new TB 'must be stopped'

2006-09-07 19:13

Johannesburg - The extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in KwaZulu-Natal must be dealt with urgently, said international health experts here on Thursday.

"There is no time to wait before we embark on decisive action," said the World Health Organisation's Dr Ernesto Jaramillo, explaining that an epidemic could have a "deadly impact".

"It's imperative that we don't allow this to go unmitigated," said Dr Ken Castro, of the United States Centre for Disease Control.

"The emergence of XDR-TB poses a threat everywhere in the world."

More than 100 medical experts and policy-makers from around the world were meeting to discuss the XDR-TB which emerged in KZN recently.

Fifty-three cases were identified and 52 of the patients have died. The HIV/TB co-infection rate was high.

'Deadly synergy'

The experts were putting together a seven-point plan to combat the spread of XDR-TB. Top priority was establishing the extent of infection.

Jaramillo said it was imperative for programmes backing HIV infection and TB to be linked, as there was a "deadly synergy" between the two.

"Both have to receive the same priority, otherwise there will be no impact."

Jaramillo said XDR-TB existed elsewhere in the world, but South Africa was the first place where its emergence with HIV infection had been identified as a "major threat".

- SAPA