Khayelitsha DR-TB the World’s Highest – MSF

Medicines Sans Frontieres (MSF) says at least six percent of people diagnosed with tuberculosis in Khayelitsha last year had a drug-resistant strain of the disease. This is according to a report on a pilot treatment programme in the township.

MSF points out that 196 of the 6 000 people diagnosed with tuberculosis in Khayelitsha last year had the drug-resistant strain of the disease and of those, three-quarters were also HIV-positive.

The organisation argues that its studies suggest that the true figure could be double that, making it one of the highest incidences of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) in the world.

To read the article titled, ‘Khayelitsha drug-resistant TB rate among world’s highest: MSF,” click here.