50 cases detected in state in past few years, patients put on high-level medication More than 50 multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases have been detected in the state in the past few years and the patients have been put on high-level medication. Though the state has a full-fledged anti-TB wing which has in recent years curbed the mortality rate among patients, the new strain has caught the health workers by surprise and could adversely affect the success of schemes implemented to eradicate the disease. If sources are to be believed, the new strain of the virus is spreading fast and could affect hundreds of people every year. The worry for doctors is that most of the infected and identified patients belong to the labour class and those living in dingy houses, particularly in the rural and far-flung areas of the state, where medical facilities are poor. Presently, the Centrally sponsored DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Strategy) and DOTS-Plus project is under operation in the state, but the emergence of the new strain of the drug-resistant TB virus is a major challenge as to some extent the drugs presently available are unable to fight the virus. “Tuberculosis is an infectious disease which usually affects the lungs. If not treated, each person with active TB can infect on an average 10 to 15 people a year. We are worried. It could become an epidemic in the coming years,” said a senior doctor on condition of anonymity. In 2006, the number of tuberculosis patients was 2,059, while the number increased to 3,174 in the Jammu region in 2010. The cases in Kashmir province in 2006 were 827, but 1,476 cases were detected in 2010. Last year, about 4,000 old-type TB cases were detected. Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is resistant to at least two powerful first-line anti-TB drugs, Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampicin (RMP). “We have to put the patients on other drugs but they are costly,” said district tuberculosis officer, Jammu, VP Sharma. He said the cases have been detected, but it is a global trend. “We have already established two laboratories with the help of the Central government to detect the strain of the resistant virus at Jammu and Srinagar. Drugs are available but detection is a problem as most patients are first given normal DOTS doses. The virus is difficult to detect,” the district tuberculosis officer said. In the state, a majority of TB cases have been detected in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah. The tribals are the worst affected as they live in congested hutments, with only one opening for fresh air. Sharma said medical professionals had to remain cautious as improper treatment could lead to a drug-resistant form of MDR-TB. A doctor at Chest Diseases Hospital here said during 2010-11, nearly 30,000 people visited the hospital with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis and lung cancer, with many of them having strains of TB. Virus threat Sources say the new strain of the TB virus is spreading fast and could affect hundreds of people every year Most of the infected and identified patients belong to the labour class and those living in dingy houses The drug-resistant TB virus is a major challenge as to some extent the drugs currently available are unable to fight the virus. It is resistant to at least two powerful first-line anti-TB drugs, Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampicin (RMP) A majority of the TB cases have been detected in Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah