As many as 125 confirmed cases of multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis have been identified in Nagpur and Akola divisions during the
ongoing DOTS Plus project. Nagpur division accounts for 109 of these cases.
Experts fear that MDR tuberculosis and its deadlier cousin — extensively-drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR) — may soon pose a bigger threat than HIV/AIDS.
Maharashtra has around 1.47 lakh suspected TB patients, of which 35,065 are confirmed cases identified under the DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course) programme, said Ashok Ladda, state tuberculosis officer. Pune district has 94 suspected MDR TB patients. At least 3.7 lakh people die of TB in the country every year.