TB epidemic fears grow

AN epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis could sweep the world in the next 10 years, experts have warned.

About one in five cases is now resistant to at least one major drug, and one in 20 can resist two or more, says a report coinciding with World TB Day today.

The report’s lead author, Professor Keertan Dheda of the University of Cape Town, said it “threatens to derail efforts to eradicate the disease”.