DA questions the preparedness on the XDR-TB outbreak in the Western Cape

By Odettte Ismail
27 April 2007

The DA is questioning whether the Western Cape is prepared to deal with Extreme Drug Resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), after four TB related deaths in the province could be attributed to the dangerous strain.

Anroux Marais, the DA’s provincial spokesperson for Health says that the “26 people who have been diagnosed with the disease, is only the tip of the iceberg.”

She acknowledges that it is difficult to diagnose the XDR-TB and says that the shortage of nurses adds to the problem. “It is only a matter of time before the true state of affairs is revealed, and by then it may be too late.”

They have called on the provincial Minister of health Mr Pierre Uys to assure the public that they are prepared for a possible outbreak.
The minister’s spokesperson Herman van der Westhuizen said they were unable to comment at the time.