The state Department of Health was notified this week of five multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis cases that have resulted in four deaths in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia.

The government of Chuuk has requested assistance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

MDR TB signifies that the two primary drugs used to treat active TB are not effective in such cases. Instead, doctors must use other drugs that extend treatment times and costs of therapy.

MDR-TB is a major global problem whose magnitude is greatly underestimated because developing countries where this may be occurring do not have TB laboratory capability to identify MDR-TB. The Pacific Island TB Controllers Association and CDC have been working to improve diagnostic, treatment, and public health for TB in the countries in the Pacific.This helped to identify the cases in Chuuk, which often go unrecognized in other parts of the world.

The DOH is forming a TB task force to maintain Hawai'i's very low rates of MDR TB, to continue to reduce its high rate of tuberculosis, and to effectively coordinate health care of MDR TB cases. MDR TB is treatable particularly when identified early and appropriate medications are administered. The DOH TB Control Branch at Lanakila provides free screening for persons at risk, and free treatment for any person with latent or active TB.