Rome (Fides Service) - New forms of antibiotic resistant TB could cause a global epidemic: a few modifications would enable them to spread rapidly.
Researchers in the United States engaged in two separate studies revealing that this “super tuberculosis” which can only be cured by a carefully balanced combination of drugs could easily spread, said this.
Despite efforts to keep TB under control, 8.7 million cases are registered every year and 2 million are lethal. The disease is spread by bacteria which live in the lungs and cause a long-term infection. Many infected people do not develop the illness but they can spread it. Although hygiene and therapy limited TB in Europe and North America, it made a new appearance in the 1990s thanks to AIDS and its attacks on the human immunity system. (AP) (27/9/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:17; Parole:179)