TB Vets funds research to cure Tuberculosis
Andrew Speaker, labeled the "TB Guy" by newspapers, caused a media uproar in 2007 when he traveled on international flights while infected with XDR-TB, a rare form of tuberculosis that is resistant to many of the drugs used to fight TB.
Since the discovery of streptomycin in 1946, tuberculosis has been treatable with antibiotics. TB has slipped from the public awareness in recent decades, but now, drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis are again making headlines. Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) is resistant to at least two commonly used TB drugs, and must be treated with more dangerous drugs. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is also resistant to many of these second-line-of-defence drugs.
Tuberculosis is most prevalent in the developing world, where it may be difficult or impossible to access doctors and medicine, but is still a problem here in Canada . Each year, 1,600 Canadians contract tuberculosis. International air travel means that any disease across the world is only a few hours from coming here to Canada .
TB Vets has been helping to fight tuberculosis since 1946. We fund research aimed at finding a cure for tuberculosis. At the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Yossef Av-Gay and Dr. Zakaria Hmama are working on finding a cure for TB. They each have different strategies, but both are working on countering drug-resistant TB. Over the years, TB Vets has given more than $1.3 million toward their research. Your generous donations have made this possible.
Please give again today, to help find a cure for this devastating disease.
Click here to learn more about TB and Dr. Av-Gay and Dr. Hmama's research.
TB Vets Charitable Foundation is pleased to present Metro Vancouver's premier recovery service for lost mobile phones, laptops, cameras, music players and any other wireless devices. This new initiative is powered by the TB Vets proven key return service and promotes the quick and easy return of all lost items. Apply the ID decal to your items and register online. It's that simple!
