2011-09-14 12:49:13

"Alarm" at rise of drug-resistant TB cases


Multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis (TB) are spreading at an alarming rate in Europe. The World Health Organisation said today the disease will kill thousands unless health authorities halt the pandemic.

WHO has launched a new regional plan to find, diagnose and treat cases of the airborne infectious disease more effectively.

Lydia O’Kane spoke to Lucica Ditiu, executive secretary of the Stop TB Partnership who explained why drug-resistent Tuberculosis is increasing saying, it is “a man made problem… we created it, to say so, we, meaning altogether patients and doctors and even society”.

She goes on to say that apart from drugs that are in the wrong combinations for patients and courses of treatment that are discontinued, there is also another angle.

Dr Ditiu says the lack of infection control measures in places such as hospitals can also lead to drug-resistant TB. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Dr Lucica Ditiu RealAudioMP3










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