By Gillian Wong
The Associated Press
BEIJING — Countries must fight a “potentially explosive” rise in hard-to-treat strains of tuberculosis with stronger health care systems and better drugs and tests for infections, the World Health Organization’s chief said Wednesday.
One of the world’s oldest and deadliest infectious diseases, TB has mutated into hardier forms that withstand some of the most commonly used medicines. Left unchecked, people with drug-resistant TB could spread the disease to others, creating a widespread epidemic in the highly mobile global economy.
WHO Director-General Margaret Chan told health ministers and senior officials from 27 countries worst-affected by the new drug-resistant strains of TB that they must make dramatic improvements in detecting infections and build stronger health care systems.
Full Story: Bill Gates’ foundation and the Chinese government announce project