TB out of control in ZImbabwe

rjt · 09-11-2007, 09:13 AM

allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: 'TB Out of Control' (Page 1 of 1)

More consequences flowing from the tryanny of the mugabe regime.

As a teenager my father witnessed his Dad die of this disease slowly over a 2 1/2 year period after fighting to keep this country safe from facism . it was not pleasant to say the least and mercifully in this country we have the ways to prevent it now.

Zak64 · 09-11-2007, 11:41 AM

Unfortunately there are now strains of TB that are resistant to most major antibiotics, making it's treatment especialy difficult. Some of this has come about via the bacillums natural ability to mutate and some has been brought about by careless overuse of antibiotics. It always was a sod to treat as the bacillus has a thick (in microbiological terms) waxy protectve coat, making it difficult for an antibiotic to penetrate.

Worse still there has been a noteable increase in TB in the UK in the last few years.

HPA | TB | Surveillance | TBIOS

If it's a serious problem here, what hope for the average Zimbabwean unlucky enough to get infected?

SilverFalcon · 09-11-2007, 01:37 PM

The reason why TB is coursing through Zimbabwe and South African populations is that it piggy backs on people infected with HIV. This is worsened by poverty and a catastrophic state of affairs in terms of clean drinking water, sewage problems and overcrowding in squatter camps.

Added to this is some 600 to 800 people dying a day in SA alone from AIDS and you get some idea of the human catastrophe occurring. There are certain areas in Africa where whole populations of villages have been wiped out and there are millions of AIDS orphans trying to survive without parents and prey to the very diseases that killed them, TB and AIDS. Child abuse is rampant and so transmission of HIV is a serious problem. Africa desperately needs properly targeted help at grassroots level and on home ground. The idea of turning all these people into refugees is insane. It only makes the tragedy more profound.

09-11-2007, 09:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
rjt Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aldershot Posts: 5,292	TB out of control in ZImbabwe allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: 'TB Out of Control' (Page 1 of 1) More consequences flowing from the tryanny of the mugabe regime. As a teenager my father witnessed his Dad die of this disease slowly over a 2 1/2 year period after fighting to keep this country safe from facism . it was not pleasant to say the least and mercifully in this country we have the ways to prevent it now. __________________ Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO! (Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990) Ignore List: The Prophets of ST Al the Unelectable.

09-11-2007, 11:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zak64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Little Poland On Sea (Bournemouth) Posts: 693	Unfortunately there are now strains of TB that are resistant to most major antibiotics, making it's treatment especialy difficult. Some of this has come about via the bacillums natural ability to mutate and some has been brought about by careless overuse of antibiotics. It always was a sod to treat as the bacillus has a thick (in microbiological terms) waxy protectve coat, making it difficult for an antibiotic to penetrate. Worse still there has been a noteable increase in TB in the UK in the last few years. HPA \| TB \| Surveillance \| TBIOS If it's a serious problem here, what hope for the average Zimbabwean unlucky enough to get infected? __________________ If anyone complains about unlimited mass immigration we call them a racist - it's our culture!

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09-11-2007, 01:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
SilverFalcon Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 815	The reason why TB is coursing through Zimbabwe and South African populations is that it piggy backs on people infected with HIV. This is worsened by poverty and a catastrophic state of affairs in terms of clean drinking water, sewage problems and overcrowding in squatter camps. Added to this is some 600 to 800 people dying a day in SA alone from AIDS and you get some idea of the human catastrophe occurring. There are certain areas in Africa where whole populations of villages have been wiped out and there are millions of AIDS orphans trying to survive without parents and prey to the very diseases that killed them, TB and AIDS. Child abuse is rampant and so transmission of HIV is a serious problem. Africa desperately needs properly targeted help at grassroots level and on home ground. The idea of turning all these people into refugees is insane. It only makes the tragedy more profound.