In-depth feature for Al Jazeera about the rise of drug-resistant forms of Tuberculosis (TB).
Over 450,000 people per year worldwide are infected with a dangerous, mutated version of one of the world’s deadliest illnesses.
The highest levels of drug-resistance are concentrated in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where in some countries more than 20% of new cases do not respond to modern antibiotics.
People diagnosed with Multi Drug Resistant TB are subject to a gruelling cocktail of toxic, older antibiotics every day for around two years.
Side-effects from these second-choice drugs include extreme nausea, vomiting, deafness, depression and psychosis. Fewer than half of patients are successfully treated.
Read the full feature here.
Watch our FPA Award shortlisted film about drug resistant TB in Armenia.
Sylvia Rowley 