XDR-TB to invade Australia from PNG?

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Study shows drug-resistant strains of TB in PNG

Posted February 5, 2008 12:32:00

A far north Queensland tuberculosis expert says a dramatic overhaul of

health services in Papua New Guinea is needed to stop the disease

spreading to Australia.

Dr Graham Simpson co-authored a study published in the Medical Journal

of Australia which examined strains of TB in PNG that are resistant to

antibiotics.

The report noted that many people with the disease go to the

Strait Islands under a treaty allowing free movement between the regions.

Dr Simpson says more than 70 TB patients were treated in Cairns last

year and about 15 cases were drug resistant.

" We're going to see increasing number of cases for some years to come

and I think we've just got to deal with that, " he said.

" It's not going to change until the facilities and the health care

facilities improve dramatically.

" A lot of the drugs that we used to treat the drug-resistant TB are

just not available at all in PNG. "

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/05/2154765.htm?section=justin