Thread: XDR-TB declared dangerous communicable disease

Very serious drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) has been declared dangerous communicable disease by the Ministry of Public Health.


Public health vice minister Dr Thawat Suntharajarn said that the decision to declare XDR-TB dangerous communicable disease in order to enable patients to be examined and diagnosed quickly so that they can have access to proper medical treatment in accordance with international standard.


Also, he said that health officials would be able to contain the spread of the disease quickly.


The World Health Organization’s report last year ranked Thailand as the 14th country with high incidence of TB, TB associated with HIV, XDR-TB and MDR-TB.


According to the report, there are about 120,000 TB cases in Thailand, including 4,500 MDR-TB cases and 450 XDR-TB cases.


Dr Thawat noted medical treatment of a XDR-TB case is very costly estimated at 1.2 million baht and successful treatment rate is rather low as most XDR-TB cases have a record of not getting treatment on regular basis, hence causing the disease to become resistant to drugs.


XDR-TB declared dangerous communicable disease - Thai PBS English News

Originally Posted by misskit

Public health vice minister Dr Thawat Suntharajarn said that the decision to declare XDR-TB dangerous communicable disease in order to enable patients to be examined and diagnosed quickly so that they can have access to proper medical treatment in accordance with international standard.

Dr Thawat noted medical treatment of a XDR-TB case is very costly estimated at 1.2 million baht

Does anyone know what the treatment consists of? Presumably not drugs.

Originally Posted by Neverna

Does anyone know what the treatment consists of? Presumably not drugs.

Drugs it is. Second line ones, and up to 2 years treatment. About 50:50 whether they will walk out of hospital or be carried out in a box.

Originally Posted by misskit

Also, he said that health officials would be able to contain the spread of the disease quickly.

Of course. This is Thailand. We never fail.

No matter that TB has thrived forever here, the drug-resistant strain can be stopped quickly.