XDR-TB woman's family tested
2006-09-14 20:45
Johannesburg - The family of the woman diagnosed with extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and the people she contacted while outside hospital were being tested for TB, said Gauteng health department.
"We are taking every step possible to ensure that the health of the people of Gauteng is not being compromised," said health MEC Brian Hlongwa on Thursday.
"We have a dedicated response team of qualified clinicians who are monitoring the situation and advising us on steps to take.
"There are standard protocols in place to deal with issues of this nature and the department has begun to implement them."
The woman was diagnosed with the condition at Sizwe Tropical Diseases Hospital. She refused treatment and later discharged herself.
She was re-admitted to hospital on Wednesday and agreed to treatment.
The provincial health department said she was being kept in an isolation ward.
Specialised treatment
Department spokesperson Zanele Zungu said clinics and hospitals throughout the province had been instructed to increase their vigilance in the screening and testing of TB patients to ensure early detection.
"Such patients will be referred to Sizwe Hospital immediately for specialised treatment.
"If there are any other cases of XDR-TB detected in Gauteng they also will be treated at Sizwe," said Zungu.
Zungu said Hlongwa had visited Sizwe Hospital on Wednesday to check the facilities and speak to the re-admitted woman.
- SAPA