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Drug‐Resistant Tuberculosis in Africa
Author(s) -
MWINGA A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb11366.x
Subject(s) - tuberculosis , per capita , environmental health , incidence (geometry) , medicine , drug resistance , drug resistant tuberculosis , economic growth , business , environmental protection , geography , population , economics , mycobacterium tuberculosis , biology , pathology , physics , microbiology and biotechnology , optics
A bstract : Africa has the highest incidence rate per capita of tuberculosis, although the rate varies among the African countries from 17.8% in Cameroon to 70% in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, the levels of drug resistance are relatively low, compared to countries like Russia and Estonia. Because treatment of MDR TB is beyond the reach of most African countries, prevention of the development of resistance should be a major priority. Establishment of programs to ensure prompt diagnosis of TB and adequate treatment with supervision should be undertaken by national governments with cooperating partners.