Quarantine urged for XDR-TB

People with a new deadly form of tuberculosis should be quarantined - even against their will - to prevent the disease's spread, scientists argued Tuesday in the medical journal Public Library of Science Medicine.

The new form of the disease, known as XDR-TB, is drug-resistant and virtually untreatable, Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reported.

In September, the World Health Organization counted 53 cases of XDR-TB in South Africa, and 52 of the patients had died, the newspaper said. In all, 300 cases have been reported worldwide.

The Canadian and African journal authors said patients who are quarantined should be compensated to ensure they do not remain in the community.

TB is a bacterial illness that in most forms can easily be cured with antibiotics. But antibiotic misuse has led to bacterial mutations that render the drugs virtually useless, the newspaper said.

People with HIV/Aids have depressed immune systems, making Aids-ravaged Africa particularly susceptible to these super strains of TB, the Globe and Mail said. – (HealthDayNews)

Read more:
MDR TB worse than thought
A-Z of Multi-drug resistant TB

For more information on care and support of tuberculosis visit South African National TB Association (SANTA) or phone them on 011 454 0260.

January 2007