Deadly and resistant TB strain reported in Epworth

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ONE case of deadly multi-drug resistant tuberculosis has been confirmed in Epworth and two more people in the same area are suspected to be infected.

Health experts say the disease has an 80 percent mortality rate. In a recent interview at Epworth Clinic, which is run by Medecins sans Frontieres (Holland), Mr Zakaria Mwatia confirmed the cases, saying the disease attacks people with weakened immune systems.

Mr Mwatia said samples had been taken to Bulawayo for laboratory analysis and came back positive for the TB strain.

"TB is one of the opportunistic infections that we treat at Epworth Clinic and we can confirm a case (MDR-TB) in one of our patients," he said.

MDR–TB is resistant against major TB drugs, rifampicin and isoniazid, while Extreme Drug Resistant TB resists even flouroquinolones and injectable aminoglycosides.

Mr Mwatia said Zimbabwe did not have treatment for MDR-TB. Head of the Aids and TB Unit in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Dr Owen Mugurungi said they were yet to receive the reports.

MDR-TB results from poor adherence to prescriptions or inappropriate treatment. It can also be found in people who develop TB after completing a previous course of first-line drugs and in those who come from areas where MDR-TB is common.

It is unusual for MDR-TB to be contagious except in sero-positive people or those with seriously suppressed immune systems.