UNITED NATIONS, March 22 (UPI) -- The percentage of new tuberculosis cases worldwide has leveled off, but the spread of highly-contagious drug-resistant TB continues, a U.N. report found.
Coinciding with the report, drug manufacturer Eli Lilly said it will invest $50 million to stop the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis on the eve of World TB Day. Around 4,400 people die every day from TB, said the World Health Organization report.
Dr. Mario Raviglione, director of the World Health Organization Stop TB Department, said extremely drug-resistant TB, which cannot be treated by either first- or second-line medicines, is now in 35 countries, including all G-8 countries.
The worst-hit countries are China, India, Russia and South Africa, he said.
"If (extremely drug-resistant TB) is let go and if it keeps spreading, particularly in Southern African where it has affected the HIV community, then we are really in deep, deep trouble," Raviglione said. "The case fatality rate in South Africa has been 90 percent or more.
"My own country last week reported the first eight cases of XDR-TB. Four of the patients have died, and this is Italy."
Lilly's investment will target drug-resistant TB. It will supply medicine to treat TB patients and will train health care personnel. It will also provide technology and expertise to generic drug manufacturers in the four countries hardest hit by drug-resistant TB.
