WHO TASK FORCE OUTLINES MEASURES TO COMBAT XDR TB

Health experts have confirmed that the emergence of extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) poses a serious threat to public health, particularly when associated with HIV. At its first meeting last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Task Force on XDR-TB also outlined a series of measures that countries must put in place to effectively combat XDR-TB. In addition, the task force will help mobilize teams that can be deployed at short notice to XDR-TB high-risk areas.

At the meeting the task force made specific recommendations on access to second-line anti-TB and antiretroviral drugs; communication and information-sharing strategies related to XDR-TB prevention, control and treatment, including co-management with antiretroviral therapy; and research and development of new TB drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests.

Last month, concerns about the emergence of XDR-TB were heightened by reports and studies from the KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa of high mortality rates in HIV-positive people with XDR-TB. This led to warnings that XDR-TB could seriously threaten the considerable progress being made in countries on TB control and the scaling up of universal access to HIV treatment and prevention. Among the first countries to request assistance to strengthen its national emergency XDR-TB response, and the extra challenges posed by HIV, is South Africa.