XDR-TB (Extreme Drug Resistant Tuberkulose)

The escapes were blamed on the hospital's security, which is provided by a private contractor.
"From the very first day some of the patients escaped it was noticed and reported, and steps were taken. We could not immediately replace the security because of the procurement processes that had to be followed," Kupelo said.
The security company has since been replaced, the number of guards increased from seven to 17, floodlights had been put in place and the fencing fixed with stronger materials.

Health authorities in the Eastern Cape have urged visitors to the province to go to their nearest TB clinic for a screening.

XDR-TB may be bigger risk than Aids

Botswana confirms first cases of extremely drug resistant TB

Drug-resistant TB kills 250 in one hospital

Der Passagier mit XDR-Tuberkulose, zu dessen Identität und genaue Sitzposition in den beiden Flugzeugen keine Einzelheiten genannt wurden, befindet sich nach Angaben der CDC derzeit in Quarantäne. Diese Zwangsisolation wurde das letzte Mal 1963 verfügt.

"There are two aspects to it," said Vallabhjee.
"One is the public health risk. The other is, having confined them, getting them to comply with treatment.
"If they refuse, they will die here. It is a very awkward situation."

One person can infect up to 15 others.

Probe into TB patients out on binge

Killer TB airborne, say researchers

The Western Cape has notched up its first significant success against the deadly strain of extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), with four patients released from isolation at Brooklyn Chest Hospital.

Hundreds of Capetonians with tuberculosis are centre-stage in an international study which has boosted hopes that a simple breath test will replace current complex diagnostics to determine TB infection.

XDR-TB 'spreading fast'
When an XDR-TB outbreak was identified in Aids patients in South Africa in 2006, it killed nearly every patient infected within weeks. According to the report, XDR-TB has now been found in 45 countries.

Govt steps up drive to avert spread of extreme TB
Doctors say the XDR and MDR patient figures are increasing dramatically.

XDR-TB patients 'malnourished' because SA staff eats their food - shock report by dietician
March 8 2008 - CAPE TOWN, South Africa. Shortly after local dietician Annchen Weidemann's shock-report on the very poor nutrition and the abuse by staffers of extremely-drug-resistant Tuberculosis patients at the Brooklyn Chest Hospital near Cape Town, the Treatment Action Campaign has been putting pressure on provincial health minister Pierre Uys to improve the situation. They want Uys to punish the staffers who were, according to Weidemann, 'withholding meals and fresh fruit' from their desperately ill patients...

The TAC picketed the hospital again on Thursday March 6 2008 just to back up their demand that matters had to improve drastically for these desperately-ill XDR-TB patients at the hospital.

Dietician Annchen Weidemann began her investigation at the state-run TB hospital on November 7 last year -- focussing on those wards occupied by Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-Tuberculosis) patients.

She was shocked to find that staff prepared meals without consulting recipes and often did not add cheese, milk or eggs to dishes to boost their nutritional levels.

Staff also were seen eating the fresh fruit that was actually intended for the XDR-TB patients -- and she also observed how staffers were withholding meals from these patients allegedly 'as punishment'...

Some staffers were also accused of scolding and insulting patients.

Weidemann's report was attached to court papers that four XDR-Tuberculosis patients had filed in a Cape High Court case to try and force their release due to this maltreatment.

These four patients, who may not be identified, then absconded from the hospital in September.

This prompted Health MEC Pierre Uys to apply for a court order compelling the patients to return and to remain in hospital until their treatment was complete.

On Thursday, Health department spokesperson Faiza Steyn said that following Weidemann's report, the hospital had 'changed its meat supplier and introduced a "more varied menu specifically designed to meet the patients' dietary requirements".

A probe also was launched into Weidemann's personally-registered observations about abusive nursing and cleaning staff.

Disciplinary action was due "pending the outcome of the investigation", said Steyn.

Krish Vallabhjee, a senior director in the Health department, said that extra funds had also been provided to renovate the hospital's kitchen.

Some 58 additional staff members had also been appointed and would focus specifically on TB hospitals in the province, said Vallabhjee.

All of this may have seemed too little, too late for TAC members who protested outside the Health department's Cape Town offices on Thursday.

TAC spokesman Mandla Majola told the gathering that the TAC's responsibility was "to mobilise our communities" and "to save lives".

Majola said Uys should listen to community leaders, activists and NGOs working in the province. He should develop a district plan that would deal with the deadly combination of Tuberculosis-and Aids-epidemics ravaging their communities.

"Pierre Uys, get your act together or face the consequences," said Majola, to cheering and ululating from the small but vocal crowd. Majola said if there were no changes to department policy, the TAC would return "in larger numbers".

The TAC handed a memorandum to a representative from Uys's department. Uys could not accept the memorandum because he was in a meeting.

Natasha Joseph, the SA journalist who reported the above, can be contacted via her email: natasha.joseph@inl.co.za

TB patients overrun guardsA NUMBER of patients with extreme- and multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis escaped from the Jose Pearson TB hospital after a group of over sixty stormed the front gates yesterday morning.

High hopes for TB vaccine

PE reeling as high-risk TB strain strikes
At least 18 people in Nelson Mandela Bay metro had already died from multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB, but officials would not confirm that the cause of death may have been XDR TB.

Mozambique sees more TB cases among SA workers
According to the World Health Organisation the occurrence of TB in South Africa had tripled in recent years and it has been compounded by HIV/Aids. – Sapa

Are nurses safe?"Furthermore their safety is compromised by the tendency of angry and frustrated patients becoming abusive and violent," the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA said in a statement on Wednesday.

Grim statistics on TB Day
In Windhoek, Health Permanent Secretary Kahijoro Kahuure said 15 205 TB cases were reported last year - that amounts to 720 cases among every 100 000 people.
Namibia is one of the world's two worst affected countries.
The other country is Swaziland.

Despite an increase in resources, especially from the Global Fund and some middle-income countries, TB budgets are projected to remain flat in 2008 in almost all of the countries most heavily burdened by the disease.

TB threat on rise
"These cases of multiple drug-resistant cases are a clear indication that it is only a matter of time before we will have extremely drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis in Namibia," Dr Kamwi said in a ministerial statement to coincide with World TB Day today.
"Given the large amount of 245 multiple drug-resistant TB cases, we may well find some XDR TB cases, which are incurable," the Health Minister warned.

SA may be helping XDR-TB spread
He said in KwaZulu-Natal, XDR-TB patients were routinely discharged after six months of treatment "even if they remain infectious".

Lethal TB strain now in Namibia
HEALTH professionals are quietly treating up to 24 confirmed cases of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis ( XDR-TB ) - the worst form of TB with seriously limited treatment options and chances of cure - in Namibian hospitals.Well-placed health sources have confirmed to The Namibian that the extreme form of TB is currently under control, but expressed fears that the country does not have the capacity to deal with a major outbreak of XDR-TB.

Runaway TB patient blames hospital
A patient with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis who absconded from Brooklyn chest hospital, has blamed poor conditions at this hospital for his actions, including a complaint that 45 patients were expected to share just two showers and two baths.

MDR-TB pupil sparks scare
Cape Town - Health authorities have offered to screen classmates of a pupil who was going to school even though she had drug-resistant tuberculosis.
…
"We do not expect that any pupils or teachers have been affected," said Vos.

KZN TB is 'worse than epidemic'
Johannesburg - The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) government says the incidence of tuberculosis ( TB ) in that province is now worse than an epidemic, SABC reported on Tuesday.

‘Perfect storm’ of Aids and TB lashes workers
“This is a national problem, one that I think has already run away from us. The drug-resistant TB epidemic is already out of control. The two epidemics feed off each other because HIV positive people are much more susceptible to TB,” Hassim said.