Madam Deputy Speaker, the UDM notes that extreme drug- resistant tuberculosis has now been confirmed in the Eastern Cape as well and that a dozen potential cases are also under investigation in the Western Cape. What this means is that this deadly disease has now been confirmed in nearly every province.
We appeal to the Department of Health to heed the dire warnings that medical experts are making with regard to XDR-TB.
The President of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society says that hospital clinics are among the best places to catch TB because of the long queues and limited air circulation. It is important to remember that the HIV/Aids patients who visit hospitals and clinics for ARVs and other treatments are highly susceptible to TB. It is for this reason that prior to the appearance of XDR-TB South Africa already had one of the highest TB infection and mortality rates in the world.
This new outbreak has already claimed the lives of 52 of the 53 people infected in Tugela Ferry, KwaZulu-Natal. All of them died within 25 days of contracting this disease. I thank you, Deputy Speaker.