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TB fuelled by HIV/AIDS - Red Cross

    JOHANNESBURG

    The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Monday said HIV/AIDS was threatening gains in tackling a tuberculosis (TB) emergency.

    Studies have shown that HIV can activate latent TB infection, leading to the development of the full-blown disease.

    "The HIV/AIDS pandemic is refuelling the TB epidemic. More and more people with HIV/AIDS are succumbing to [TB] the disease," IFRC TB advisor, Terhi Heinasmaki, said in a statement.

    IFRC said the most alarming increases in TB infection rates in recent years have been in Africa and Eastern Europe.

    In South Africa alone, 50 percent of people with TB are also HIV positive," Heinasmaki added.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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