300 new cases of dangerous TB

Last updated: Thursday, November 23, 2006 Print A total of 303 cases of extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) have been confirmed across South Africa, the national health department said on Thursday.

The department recorded 263 cases in KwaZulu-Natal, 10 cases each in the Eastern Cape and the North West, nine in Gauteng, six in the Free State, three in Limpopo and two in the Northern Cape. None were reported in Mpumalanga and the Western Cape.

The statistics were released by the department's head of TB, Dr Lindiwe Mvusi.

XDR-TB is defined by the World Health Organization as TB which is resistant to the main first-line TB drugs and to three or more of the six second-line drugs.

XDR-TB was first identified in South Africa in Tugela Ferry in KZN earlier this year and showed high mortality rates, with 52 of the first 53 patients dying. The disease is complicated by the presence of HIV/Aids. – (Sapa)

Read more:
A-Z of Multi-drug resistant TB

November 2006

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