Killer TB patient 'isolated'
2006-09-14 10:20
Johannesburg - The woman diagnosed with extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has agreed to hospital treatment, the Gauteng health department said on Thursday.
"We are busy conducting more tests to establish what drugs she could respond to," spokespersonn Zanele Zungu said.
The woman was re-admitted to hospital on Wednesday after health officials launched a search for her. She had been diagnosed last Friday with XDR-TB at Sizwe Tropical Diseases hospital and refused further treatment. She later discharged herself.
"Yesterday (Wednesday) we spoke to her and explained why she had to be treated, we did not force her. At first she did not want to go back to hospital but we managed to persuade her."
Zungu said the woman was in an isolation ward while tests were conducted.
She said a report on the people the patient contacted while out of hospital would be available later on Thursday.
"We can not reveal the name of the area she is from as that would create public alarm. Her neighbours might get scared," Zungu said.
Sixty people have died of XDR-TB at Tugela Ferry, KwaZulu-Natal, since January 2005, including eight admitted to hospital between March and August this year.
XDR-TB is a virulent form of TB which is resistant to the two drugs used to treat multi-drug resistant TB, and to which people with HIV and Aids are particularly susceptible.
- SAPA