Press Release

Public Health Investigation Seeks People Who May Have Been Exposed to Extensively Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (XDR TB) Infected Person

Who:

Dr. Julie Gerberding, Director, CDC
Dr. Martin Cetron, Director, CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine
Dr. Kenneth Castro, Director, CDC Division of Tuberculosis Elimination

What:

Release of information about the action and steps that CDC is taking in response to a case of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) in a U.S. citizen who undertook international travel. XDR TB is a recently defined subtype of multi-drug resistant TB and can cause severe illness and death.

Why:

Like all forms of TB, XDR TB is a disease caused by germs that are spread person-to-person through the air. In this case, the infected patient traveled on two trans-Atlantic air flights and in doing so, may have exposed passengers and crew to XDR TB. A federal quarantine order has been issued and CDC is currently collaborating with U.S. state and local health departments, international Ministries of Health, the airline industry, and WHO.

When:

Tuesday, May 29, 2007, 2 p.m. ET
Brief remarks followed by Q&Amp;A

Dial-In:

• US Media: 1-888-795-0855
• International: 210-234-0025
• Passcode: CDC Media

Listen to the Briefing by visiting the webcast link at: www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=40136

Transcript

A full transcript of this teleconference will be available following the briefing on the CDC web site at www.cdc.gov/media/transcripts/t070529.htm.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES