The rise of incurable tuberculosis (TB) underscores the need to address poverty, overcrowding and the HIV epidemic in Africa, experts say.

A study which tracked more than 273 patients with extensively drig-resistant TB (XDR-TB) and incurable TB in the Western and Northern Cape hospitals over a period of six years found that of the two thirds of patients ended up with poor outcomes.

UCT Professor Dr Keertan Dheda said more than half the discharged patients with incurable TB remained alive for an average of 16 months.

Download the article Cape Times, 30 January 2017