Decision after Union government’s expert team visits Mumbai on January 18.
Following the alarming revelation of 12 cases of totally drug resistant tuberculosis (TDR-TB) at PD Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, the state health department is now considering if isolation of affected patients is necessary.
It has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to prepare a progress report of the TDR-TB patients.
“TB is a contagious disease and can spread through droplet infection in air. If it is true that these patients have completely drug resistant infection, it would be wise to isolate them to avoid spread of infection to healthier people,’’ said a senior health official.
Dr Suresh Gupta, director general of state health services, confirmed that the idea of isolating the patients has struck state officials.
“A team from the Union government’s tuberculosis control programme is expected on January 18. We are waiting for guidance from them on how to handle these cases. In the meantime, we have asked the local civic authorities to prepare a detailed report on treatment, response to treatment and progress report of patients since they are under treatment since 6 months,’’ he said.
The present review by the BMC team, however, shows the immediate kin of the family not affected by TDR-TB. The progress report prepared by BMC officials will help the state to decide on whether to and how to isolate the TDR-TB patients and how to go about the treatment.
A senior official from the BMC health department said, “We have completed the screening and counselling of TDR-TB patients from Hinduja. We have counseled the patients and relatives. So far, we have not found anyone in the immediate kin suffering from TDR-TB. We will submit the report to the state health department and the central TB division team when they visit Mumbai next week.’’
Gupta added that the decision to isolate patients would depend on several factors. “Firstly, their current health status report would be considered. Secondly, we have done the contract tracing and none of the immediate contacts showed any active infection. Also, it depends on patients: if they agree to be isolated in government hospitals in city or elsewhere. Their consent and direction from the central team is also most important,’’ said Gupta.
A high-level meeting of top officials had been convened in Mantralaya, Mumbai, for discussion on TDR-TB cases.
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