Press Briefing/Conference Call on New Data on Global Threat of Drug-Resistant TB with WHO Experts


New Report to Highlight Extent of Dangerous Strains of TB

Washington, DC (February 25, 2008):

What:

On February 26, the World Health Organization will release a new surveillance report on drug-resistant tuberculosis titled “Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in the World.” With new data from over 80 countries, this is the largest and first survey by WHO on drug resistance since extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) was documented as a public health threat.
 

Who:

Dr. Mario Raviglione, Director, Stop TB Department, WHO

Abigail Wright, principal author of the report, WHO

Moderated by Joanne Carter, Associate Executive Director, RESULTS Educational Fund
 

When:

Tuesday, February 26, 1:00 PM ET by teleconference.
 

How:

To RSVP, please contact Robyn Shepherd at 202-783-7100 x120 or by e-mail at [email protected]. On the day of the call, participants should dial 1-888-373-5705 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-719-457-3840 (international). The participant passcode is 989646.
 

Why:

Tuberculosis kills approximately one and a half million people a year, and is second to HIV/AIDS as the world’s leading infectious killer. TB is the number one killer of people with HIV/AIDS, and the spread of drug-resistant TB threatens to roll back progress made in the AIDS pandemic. The number of countries confirming cases of XDR-TB is increasing – with cases identified in the U.S. and Canada. In some settings, fatality rates are almost 100 percent. As an indication of the danger it poses, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified XDR-TB as “an emerging threat to the homeland.”

 

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