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2010-01-30 12:55:16 - Epidemic Hazard - Marshall Islands EDIS CODE: EH-20100130-24742-MHL
Date & Time: 2010-01-30 12:55:16 [UTC]
Area: Marshall Islands, , Statewide, !!! ALERT !!! Number of Infected person(s): 10
Not confirmed information! Description: In Marshall Islands, a public health emergency has been declared. This has happened following an outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis. The government is thinking of calling upon special powers of quarantine. In less than two months the number of people with the drug-resistant disease has risen from six to 10 in the western Pacific nation. Everyone now fears that the situation would escalate and will reach to 500. Majuro Hospital chief of staff Marie Lanwi-Paul, said, "We are in the process of doubling the bed capacity" in the TB isolation unit.” Rachel Powel who is working with the World Health Organisation said, "Drug resistance poses a serious threat to our ability to treat and control TB.” Marshall Islands Health Minister Amenta Matthew said she was in the process of forming legislation that would give power to the director of health to quarantine people who were not complying with TB prevention requirements. Mathew felt that the drug-resistant TB evoloved because of people not following advice of taking medicines despite physicians counseling them. It was reported that one patient was taken to the court by health authorities for failing to take treatment and remain in isolation.
The name of Hazard: Drug-resistant tuberculosis
Species: Human
Status: Confirmed
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