With India becoming home to one fifth of the global burden of multi drug resistant TB cases, the centre is about to launch a major programme to thwart the spread of the drug-resistant bacteria. Expected to be launched in May, the new programme called DOTS plus will be rolled out in three out of four southern states — barring Karnataka — in May.
The remaining states are Delhi, West Bengal, Haryana and Rajsthan. Karnataka’s turn will come in 2009 when the programme will be extended to 17 other states.
