Tuberculosis in Africa — Combating an HIV-Driven Crisis (NewEngJourMed)

[pinto]

Tuberculosis in Africa — Combating an HIV-Driven Crisis
Richard E. Chaisson, M.D., and Neil A. Martinson, M.B., B.Ch., M.P.H.

Africa is facing the worst tuberculosis epidemic since the advent of the antibiotic era. Driven by a generalized human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic and compounded by weak health care systems, inadequate laboratories, and conditions that promote transmission of infection, this devastating situation has steadily worsened, exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.

Africa, home to 11% of the world's population, carries 29% of the global burden of tuberculosis cases and 34% of related deaths, and the challenges of controlling the disease in the region have never been greater. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the average incidence of tuberculosis in African countries more than doubled between 1990 and 2005, from 149 to 343 per 100,000 population (see maps)1 — a stark contrast to the stable or declining rates in all other regions during this period. In 1990, two African countries, Mali and Togo, had an incidence greater than 300 per 100,000; by 2005, 25 countries had reached that level, and 8 of them had an incidence at least twice that high.

<snip>

As HIV prevalence increased in Africa — most strikingly in the 1990s — and the cellular immunocompetence of populations became impaired, susceptibility to tuberculosis grew dramatically. South African gold miners, for example, already had one of the highest incidence rates of tuberculosis in the world, but rates remained stable between 1990 and 1999 among HIV-negative miners, while rates among HIV-positive miners increased by a factor of 10.

<snip>

In the midst of this bleak situation, there is a glimmer of hope. In 2005, the African ministers of health declared a "TB Emergency," promising swift and concerted action to combat the disease. And the global health community has increased its investment in tuberculosis control and research. HIV activists, having achieved success in their AIDS awareness and funding efforts, have set their sights on tuberculosis. At an international tuberculosis conference in South Africa in November 2007, more than 3000 delegates brought a new level of attention and urgency to Africa's unprecedented health problems.

<complete article at:>

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/358/11/1089?query=TOC

The New England Journal of Medicine is owned, published, and copyrighted © 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved.

[TZ]

1. On top of this

Malaria plays a role. There seems to be some relationship between malaria, TB and HIV..One leaves one succeptible to the other.
All three of the "Big Three" diseases need to be treated in Africa. Those three kill more people worldwide than any other group of diseases..

[mac2]

3. Africa could be a wonderful place since it is rich in resources

and beauty. A continent whose people are sick and not productive has a terrible cost over all.

Because of over population, wars, and crop failures from bad farming and lack of water...starvation, and diseases (previously wiped out now back worse than ever), etc. the people of Africa suffer now more than anytime in their history.

The church has been of some comfort (educate and teach them how to live better) to them but may also be their demise. Religious wars are the cause of them to be in constant wars and chaos. The clergy don't attempt to make peace but hope they win the battle.

Between over population, poverty, religious wars, and Empire Builders (forcing slavery on them and to steal their wealth) Africa is becoming the Middle East. Our politicians talk about the African Union like it has been a long time thing. The people have not given the Neo Cons permission to form Africa as they want. Their goals for Africa I am sure isn't shared by the citizens of all the various countries. It might be a disaster sitting there to erupt any time now. They were just getting the feeling of democracy without Empires forcing themselves on them. Now the "Cons" want that power and wealth back.

I'm beginning to think the Cons want a large part of the world's population gone. At the same time they talk about big families and religion. You can't have a healthy earth and population with over population religious policies. You can't have both.

The big three diseases might become resistant and all of us may be in trouble (malaria, TB and HIV). Unless we have a Ellis Island type entry to America TB will become more prominent here also. There is already talk of it in immigrant cities of LA and NY City. Poverty and homelessness of immigrants adds to it. Just like at the turn of the century diseases spread among the crowded and poverty stricken slums in a quick and cruel way.

That's when the people demanded immigration be controlled. Yet we go back to it and the same problems today. Talk about history repeating itself!

Our government has lacked any responsibility to protect us from these people flowing freely within our society. All they think about is cheap labor. We all pay for it dearly.

-We could do more...like test them for TB and HIV before entry into our country. No tests can be that quick? We could do it if we tried. The will is lacking.

-Give more funds to the UN and our CDC to isolate and test for disease before it spreads. Also to make new drugs to fight the mutations of these diseases.

-Investigate where all that money has gone for the purpose of fighting disease in Africa. Drugs Ok, etc.

-Place air filters which filter out the very fine germs that people breathe in crowded spaces..such as offices, hospitals, airlines, etc.

-Test more frequently the people close to the Southern border (schools and public programs).

-National health care is necessary so sick people will go to get health care not walk around spreading it everywhere. Our productivity could decrease unless we are all healthy. It's a bottom line cost to keep them on the job politicians.

-Isolate and do studies in areas of the world with Pandemics. Drugs don't always work.

I'm sure other people could think of other ways to address ways to stop the spread of the three top disease spreading in that area of the world...soon to be here.

[pinto]

4. Yeah. Read a great overview of malaria history in Nat'l Geo, iirc,

that placed it squarely in the middle of African - Asian endemic communicable diseases, some resurgent.

The sad side story is, as you note, that malaria and TB are eminently preventable with tried and true measures, and decreasing their incidence would provide much more room for HIV treatment efforts in the regions.

[OKthatsIT]

2. Research Club of Rome, especially the philosophy/goals set in the 70's

Some of our favorite people belong to this elite Think Tank. They are a special breed of diplomats corporate bigwigs concerned about 'over population'. I wanted to add this to your concerns because there is more, than meets the eye.

Mothers of Africa have long suspected there was a Bio-Depopulation Ops taking place in their countries and have resisted taking vaccinations because of these fears.

http://www.knowledgedrivenrevolution.com/Articles/200802/20080211_MTP_1_Organic.htm
http://www.mega.nu/ampp/bilderberg.html
http://www.propagandamatrix.com/archive_club_of_rome.html
http://green-agenda.com/index.html

I'm afraid...until this matter is thoroughly addressed, your anxiety will have cause for much much more alarm.

Oh, BTW, that Genetically Modified Corn oil you're using tonight, or the cow fed on the same...could be made by Monsanto, with built in cells producing its own 'BT'(Bacillus thuringiensis, insecticide). Most of Africa is broke and needs 'seeds' or starve. hmmmm.

Peace.
In Lies We Trust: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8674401787208020885&q=In+Lies+We+Trust&total=1764&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
http://www.webmunism.com/vids/of/Pub+Think+MTV+Holocaust+metro

[pinto]

5. Not sure about your point. Do you think there's a covert agenda in this picture?

The gist of the NE Jour Med piece, as well as recent epidemiology, is linking the effect of TB incidence and HIV, as well as malaria incidence, as noted above.

I'm leery of Club of Rome, Bilderberg and related secret agenda concerns. Much of them are fear based, borderline racist and generally unsupported by any reputable information. Just my 2 cents, as they say, but I don't buy it.

[mac2]

6. The critical thing about the people is they believe that they

are not getting good drugs and vaccines so they stay away. Until they prove that they are safe there is a problem.

Maybe a neutral country such as Norway or Switzerland, etc. who do pre-testing and give the drugs and vaccines might do the trick. Even a county that they would suggest. They have to have control.

I have to admit the Africans have survived many disasters and invading Empires. So they know how to survive. If I were in that area of the world...or even in New Orleans I would do as they do...because they are survivors. Many more should have died in the Katrina disaster but didn't.