- By Maryn McKenna
- February 16, 2012 |
- 9:15 am |
On the heels of the news of totally drug-resistant (TDR) TB being identified in India ,” and disavowed, unfortunately, by the Indian government ,” the World Health Organization has released an update on the background situation of drug-resistant TB around the world.
The news is not good. Drug-resistant TB is at the highest rates ever recorded.
A quick vocabulary briefing. There is an array of drugs for TB: two very long-standing ones, and three newer ones, that are collectively called “first-line” drugs; and a category of less-effective second-choice drugs, collectively called “second-line.” (Nothing to do with New Orleans funerals.) The distinction is important because, while any TB treatment takes a very long time, second-line treatment takes much longer: 2 years, as opposed to 6 months or so for first-line drugs.
Full article link HERE
India Reports Completely Drug-Resistant TB – link to full article HERE
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