Toronto Star (12.31.11) - Thursday, January 05, 2012 The World
Health Organization's regional office for Europe released a
report in September warning about the spread of multidrug-
resistant TB across the continent. MDR TB takes up to two years
to treat and is cured in western Europe only one- third of the
time. The spread of MDR TB is an especially daunting challenge
for Europe due to its lack of formal borders and the relative
ease with which people cross from country to country. "MDR TB is
spreading at an alarming rate" in Europe and Central Asia, WHO's
report concluded. "The real story of MDR TB in Europe is that
the vast majority of countries are facing a major problem, with
the exception of the Baltic countries dealing with it
effectively," said Mario Raviglione, director of WHO's Stop TB
Partnership. Estonia and Latvia, he said, have dramatically cut
their cases in the last 15 years. Experts say both nations
demonstrated a strong political will to fight TB, which led to
targeted funds for TB Piret Viik