Three years after the discovery of extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XXDR TB) in Mumbai, there is some positive news. A tailor from central Mumbai, who was battling both HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) as well as XXDR TB, has been declared free of the drug-resistant TB bacillus. "His tests have repeatedly shown that he is free of the bacillus," said chest physician Dr Zarir Udwadia, who treated him and highlighted the presence of XXDR TB in Mumbai in 2012.
The news gains significance because of the high mortality associated with XXDR TB: six of the 12 patients who were initially diagnosed with XXDR - at times referred to as totally drug-resistant TB - died within a few months of diagnosis. On Thursday, BMC officials said that the six of the remaining XXDR TB patients are doing well. "Apart from them, we have 374 patients who suffered from MDR (multi-drug resistant TB ) and XDR…
