South Africa’s Super bug
A virulent strain of TB (XDR TB) which is extremely drug resistant, is on the rise in South Africa. Of the 52 people killed by this third generation TB all of them also suffered from HIV within 16 days.
Doctors there are considering quarantining those with the TB as a preventative measure because of the risk to the general public.
In this matter South Africa’s laws are similar to ours in the United States. Our constitutions protect us by giving individuals the rights not to be medically treated. However, there are other laws that allow officials to forcibly remove and treat an individual if it is in the best public interest.
This has become an issue there because they had a woman who was infected with this new strain of TB that refused to remain in the hospital. They did not want her on the streets because this disease is so contagious and dangerous.
It will be interesting to see what happens with this issue while they are trying to come up with a drug to fight the TB.
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