Untreatable TB threat ‘apocalyptic scenario’
QUOTE:

“It was in March 2006 when researchers reported their encounter with the extensively resistant TB strains. Within a few months, a cluster of “virtually untreatable” XDR-TB cases was reported in South Africa, aggravated by a high prevalence of HIV.

“All but one of the 53 patients died in an average of 25 days after samples were taken for drug resistance tests,” the agency said. Then Speaker’s case, “focused attention on the need to address the TB epidemic as an immediate international priority.”

“A highly important element of the plan is a steady supply of quality drugs to treat MDR-TB and XDR-TB in underserved countries,” said Dr. Marcos Espinale, executive secretary of the Stop TB Partnership. “The Partnership’s Global Drug Facility is ensuring supply of these drugs to a growing number of countries, after our Green Light Committee has verified that applicant countries meet its technical standards and will use the drugs correctly.”

MDR-TB is defined as being resistant to main first-line drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin. More than 400,000 such cases are reported each year, and it emerges generally when it is spread from one person to another, or the drugs used to battle ordinary TB are mismanaged, allowing a resistance to develop, officials said.”

And Barbara Simpson had some good insights on this topic as well:
TB or not TB? That is the question

“If anyone contracts TB because Speaker ignored those travel warnings, there could be some interesting lawsuits. Willfully exposing people to infectious diseases is not something juries look kindly on; there’s precedent for such responsibility.

Interestingly, Speaker, who’s been described as looking, acting and feeling healthy, said he made the trip home because he feared dying in Italy.

Hm

mmm.

Another “hmmmm” – is that Speaker and his father practice law together, and they tape-recorded their first conversations with doctors concerning his infection.

Ah, lawyers – always thinking!

Another “hmmmm” – Speaker’s father-in-law has been a TB researcher at the CDC for 32 years.

And “hmmmm” again: The mayor of the Greek Island of Santorini, Angelos Rousso, told the AP, “There was no wedding.” The couple didn’t have the necessary papers, stayed a few days and left.

Now, Speaker is under quarantine at a medical facility in Denver for treatment and possible surgery.

Meanwhile, U.S. medical and government officials scramble to determine how and why this happened.

I wonder whether U.S. officials in Homeland Security, Congress and the CDC are so concerned only because the governments and health departments across Europe and North America, including Italy, France, Greece, the Czech Republic and Canada – as well as the World Health Organization, are involved.

The scenario does make the U.S. look inept, especially since we’re supposed to have procedures to deal with potential pandemics. After all, we’re inundated with dire predictions of influenza and bird flu, to say nothing of the real potential for terrorist use of viruses, bacteria and other biologicals and chemicals.

We’ve been told safeguards are in place. Now we know they don’t work.

That’s no surprise. If we can’t get elected officials to pay serious attention to illegal aliens crossing our southern border by the millions and the infectious diseases they bring into our country, why should we believe government could deal with contamination from international travelers, or, indeed, the potential of terrorist contamination of our population?

Why indeed?”

I really like Ms. Simpsons columns. She is a realist when it comes to terrorism and these diseases that pose such a threat.
One of the main reasons that I have felt so comfortable learning childbirth self sufficiency is that I am absolutely convinced at some point the birth machine will not be available to help me while I give birth. They never seem to consider this possibility as they spew their rhetoric about danger and irresponsibility. They think that because societal infrstructures have been so stable for the past fifty years, that we can count on them indefinitely to provide us with the so-called necessary services for life.
Doctors, what if the power, water, and food supplies are not functioning for a week? A Month? Three Months? What if your fancy shmancy machines are left desolate and disfunctional because you have no electricity? What if the oil production halts for one reason or another, or a series of natural disasters or diseases prevent us from coming to you for help when our children are ready to be born?
Doesn’t it make sense for parents to know as much as possible about home birth and breastfeeding, just in case any or all of those scenarios play out and we are unable to drive to the hospital for a birth?
Just a little food for thought.
Jenny Hatch