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Red
Cross Red Crescent forms alliance with leading health agencies against
growing threat of drug-resistant tuberculosis in Europe 10 October 2006 The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is establishing a new alliance with the World Health Organization (WHO), Médecins du Monde and 20 other leading European agencies and NGOs to forge a more effective response to the tuberculosis epidemic in the European region1. The Stop TB Partnership for Europe is being launched amid growing alarm about high levels of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB2) in the Baltic States, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the more recent emergence of extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB3) that is virtually untreatable. Senior officials warn that the continued spread of such virulent strains poses a serious threat to TB treatment and control in the region, and challenge the European Union to assume a larger role in tackling the problem. “Red Cross societies were on the frontlines of the struggle to contain tuberculosis in Europe before TB drugs were discovered in the 1940s, so we know very well the tenacity of this disease,” said Markku Niskala, Secretary General of the International Federation. “The drug resistance that we are seeing now is without doubt the most alarming TB situation on the continent since World War II, and our message to EU leaders is: Wake up, do not delay, do not let this problem get further out of hand.” About 450,000 people become sick with tuberculosis and nearly 70,000 people die from the disease in the European region each year. The defining trait of the epidemic is drug resistance. Of the 20 countries in the world with the highest rates of MDR-TB, 14 are in the European region - a result of poor control practices and high treatment default rates among patients. In some countries, the misuse of second-line drugs - the last line of defense against the disease - is generating high rates of XDR-TB. The problem is compounded by the steeply rising prevalence of HIV, especially in Russia and Ukraine, which makes people far more susceptible to developing active TB if they become co-infected. The new partnership will have several main objectives. The immediate priority is generating political commitment in Europe to ensure the financial, technical and human resources that are needed to curb the tuberculosis epidemic. At present, the bulk of technical support that affected countries need to fight TB effectively is being provided by the United States. “The hottest zones of drug resistant TB are all around the periphery of the European Union, and this is why WHO's Regional Director described it as an ‘emergency’ situation on the continent,” said Mario Raviglione, director of the WHO Stop TB Department. “Investment in TB control must reflect the real emergency we are facing and be placed higher on the European agenda, especially in donor countries. Europeans should be solving European problems, especially one as serious as this.” Another aim of the partnership is to engage a much broader range of stakeholders beyond ministries of health in this effort – corporations, foundations, academic and research institutions, media, NGOs and civil society – and harmonize their collective efforts for greater strategic impact. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: International Federation Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel : + 41 22 730 43 46 / + 41 79 217 33 45 Federation media duty phone Tel: + 41 79 416 38 81 World Health Organization (WHO) Glenn Thomas, Communications Officer Tel: + 41 79 509 0677 1The WHO European region consists of 52 Member States, each of which has a national Red Cross or Red Crescent Society. 2Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is defined as strains that are resistant to at least the two most potent first-line TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. 3Extreme drug resistant TB is currently defined as MDR-TB that is resistant to at least 3 of the 6 classes of second-line TB drugs. The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 185 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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