Following rigorous testing of multi-drug resistance tuberculosis patients, the Gauteng department of health has confirmed six cases of extreme drug-resistance tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in Gauteng, the province said in a statement on Tuesday.
”Three of these patients are already receiving medical care at Sizwe Tropical Disease Hospital. The department is in the process of tracing the other three patients,” the statement said.
All hospitals, clinics and health practitioners in Gauteng were advised earlier in the month to increase their vigilance in the monitoring and treatment of TB cases to detect the occurrence of XDR-TB.
The Gauteng department of health gave the assurance that every possible step was being implemented ”to ensure early detection of XDR-TB and to safeguard the health of the people of Gauteng.”
Manto seeks meeting with WHO
Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has requested an urgent meeting with the World Health Organisation (WHO) regarding XDR-TB.
Tshabalala-Msimang said on Tuesday she had been in touch with the WHO and ministers in the Southern African region to discuss the outbreak of the disease.
”I have requested an urgent meeting with experts from the WHO so that we can get assistance to develop a national as well as a regional strategy to deal with XDR-TB,” she told reporters in Pretoria.
The minister has asked TB researchers and clinicians to keep her briefed on the extent of the problem and what was being done to contain it. — I-Net Bridge, Sapa