It's a scandal that tuberculosis has not been given proper attention - and this is mainly because it's a disease of the poor, says Nils Billo, executive director of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
Speaking at the end of the 38th IUATLD World Conference on Lung Health in Cape Town yesterday, Billo said it was a scandal that there had not been more support in the past to find new and better drugs and diagnostics.
"We had the medication for Aids in six years. It's a scandal," said Billo.
No new drug has been developed for TB for over 40 years. Two drugs are showing promise, but expectations are that this will only be available by 2011.
Moxifloxacin has entered phase 3 trials, but this is only due to massive investment from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The foundation is also driving the search for new diagnostics and a vaccine.
Held for the first time in Africa, the conference attracted 3 000 delegates from 120 countries, but there was the stark reality that 27 000 people died of TB during the six days of the conference - almost all of them in the developing world.
Delegates have seen a renewed push to find better solutions to confront the TB epidemic, but it is mainly due to its link to the HIV epidemic.
TB is the number one killer of people living with HIV, despite the fact that it is curable.
Poor TB control programmes in many countries, including South Africa, have neglected simple preventive measures such as infection control in clinics and hospitals and making sure that people are cured of TB the first time around.
However, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang differed with scientists last week when she urged them to "separate fact from fiction".
The government pulled out all the stops at the conference to try to convince the world that all was well, launching a TB programme for the next five years.
Dr Donald Enarson of the IUATLD used Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital as a good example of failure to implement infection control programmes.
"Patients lie side by side on stretchers, waiting to be seen. Many are coughing, and we know that one-third of people going to health services are going because of chest infections.
"If you consider that there are also many people going to hospital for HIV-related issues, you have a problem. It is the easiest thing for someone to stand by the door and separate those who cough and those who don't," said Enarson. - Health-e News Service