Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis

As I've been watching the drama between democrats Clinton and Obama over at Yahoo! Videos,I came across a very (IMO) disturbing News, Extremely Drug-Resistan Strains of Tuberculosis. (see video here)
As I quote from an article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA)

"Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) is a relatively rare type of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). It is resistant to almost all drugs used to treat TB, including the two best first-line drugs: isoniazid and rifampin. XDR TB is also resistant to the best second-line medications: fluoroquinolones and at least one of three injectable drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).

Because XDR TB is resistant to the most powerful first-line and second-line drugs, patients are left with treatment options that are much less effective and often have worse treatment outcomes.

XDR TB is of special concern for persons with HIV infection or other conditions that can weaken the immune system. These persons are more likely to develop TB disease once they are infected, and also have a higher risk of death once they develop TB disease.

The risk of acquiring XDR TB in the United States appears to be relatively low. However, it is important to acknowledge the ease at which TB can spread. As long as XDR TB exists, the United States is at risk and must address the threat."

I was a bit bothered by the issue since, most of the affected countries are in Africa and somewhere around the border of the Soviet Union, which is relatively near Asia and might infiltrate the Philippines, this could add another major problem in our Health System and Services, since most of our public hospitals, upon personal experience lack the necessary protective gears to help prevent contracting the disease.


Disease Focus: Tuberculosis