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Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...wide-study-on-MDR-TB/articleshow/11772699.cms
WHO asks India to conduct nationwide study on MDR-TB
The writer has posted comments on this articleKounteya SinhaKounteya Sinha, TNN | Feb 6, 2012, 04.03AM IST
NEW DELHI: Multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is spreading far and wide across the globe. The latest World Health Organisation (WHO) analysis published on Saturday said cases of MDR-TB had now been reported from 80 countries, in some instances in almost 30% of all newly diagnosed cases.
But only 34 countries have a system in place to routinely test all patients with MDR-TB for second line anti-TB drug resistance. The global overview also shows record levels of this serious public health threat, with some countries reporting MDR-TB in more than 65% of patients who have been previously treated for TB.
However, WHO rued the fact that India, which has a major burden of MDR-TB, still does not have national level data on this serious air-borne disease. It said, "Whereas China has been able to conduct a nationwide survey, India and the Russian Federation - the other two large countries that, with China, contribute to more than 50% of the estimated global burden of MDR-TB -- have only produced reliable sub-national level data to date. To understand the magnitude of the MDR-TB problem and address it, nationwide surveillance systems should be established in all countries, with greater urgency in the highest burden settings."
Dr Matteo Zignol from the Stop TB Department at WHO said, "Surveillance of resistance to drugs is the cornerstone of TB control. Following 15 years of intensive effort, we now have high quality data for two-thirds of countries in the world. At the same time, we don't know the full extent of the problem because we lack data from many countries, in particular India and most of Africa where the TB burden is high."...
WHO asks India to conduct nationwide study on MDR-TB
The writer has posted comments on this articleKounteya SinhaKounteya Sinha, TNN | Feb 6, 2012, 04.03AM IST
NEW DELHI: Multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is spreading far and wide across the globe. The latest World Health Organisation (WHO) analysis published on Saturday said cases of MDR-TB had now been reported from 80 countries, in some instances in almost 30% of all newly diagnosed cases.
But only 34 countries have a system in place to routinely test all patients with MDR-TB for second line anti-TB drug resistance. The global overview also shows record levels of this serious public health threat, with some countries reporting MDR-TB in more than 65% of patients who have been previously treated for TB.
However, WHO rued the fact that India, which has a major burden of MDR-TB, still does not have national level data on this serious air-borne disease. It said, "Whereas China has been able to conduct a nationwide survey, India and the Russian Federation - the other two large countries that, with China, contribute to more than 50% of the estimated global burden of MDR-TB -- have only produced reliable sub-national level data to date. To understand the magnitude of the MDR-TB problem and address it, nationwide surveillance systems should be established in all countries, with greater urgency in the highest burden settings."
Dr Matteo Zignol from the Stop TB Department at WHO said, "Surveillance of resistance to drugs is the cornerstone of TB control. Following 15 years of intensive effort, we now have high quality data for two-thirds of countries in the world. At the same time, we don't know the full extent of the problem because we lack data from many countries, in particular India and most of Africa where the TB burden is high."...