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