XDR-TB Reaches U.S.--Causes Widespread Panic

ATLANTA -- As reported in last month's issue of  "World News & Nursing Report" a deadly new strain of tuberculosis has spread from South Africa to Europe, Canada and now, the United States.  This extremely strong strain called XDR-TB (extensively drug resistant) has now been documented in 35 countries world wide, with 16 new countries invaded in the first 3 months of 2007.

This month a U.S. citizen, a young male lawyer from Atlanta, Georgia, diagnosed with XDR-TB was not warned by his doctors to put off his long-planned wedding in Greece.  Knowing he had a form of tuberculosis, and that it was resistant to first-line drugs, he didn't realize until he reached Europe how far more dangerous it was.

Panic Over Infected U.S. Citizen is Just The Tip of the Nightmare: New Strains of Tuberculosis Can Be Used as a Powerful Bioterror Weapon

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA -- Despite billions of dollars spent on national security in airports, a man infected with XDR (extensively drug resistant) tuberculosis was allowed to travel unhindered into the United States, underscoring how drug-resistant strains of the disease could be used in a bioterrorist attack against the U.S.

The attention this story has been receiving over the past few days is no surprise, but it's just a glimpse of the potential nightmare ahead.

XDR-TB Spreads Easily, HIV/AID Infected At Severe Risk

SAUSALITO -- As reported in just last month's "World News & Nursing Report," Dr. Mario Raviglione, the Director of the STOP TB program at WHO stated that "If it keeps spreading, as it has in South Africa, then we are really in trouble."

Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention said, " The risk of XDR TB appears to be low in the United States. However, due to the ease with which TB can spread, XDR TB will continue to pose a serious risk to the United States as long as it exists anywhere else in the world."

Homeland Security to Hold Hearing on TB Incident

WASHINGTON -- In response to the recent tuberculosis incident, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, will hold a full committee hearing entitled "The XDR Tuberculosis Incident: A Poorly Coordinated Federal Response to an Incident with Homeland Security Implications."

New Tuberculosis Vaccines in Development Could Protect Against Deadly Drug Resistant Strains

Vaccines are a critical intervention for preventing influenza and reducing its health consequences during a pandemic. Since 2004, WHO has been working with various partners to find ways to improve and promote the development and production of pandemic vaccines in order to make such vaccines available rapidly and in as large a quantity as possible.