The World Health Organization is calling for an aggressive, international effort to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis, especially among those Russian prisoners. Because they don't lie there and die, they spread disease to other people. Main Problems in Russia Russian prisoners have a very high rate of infection. Up to 30 percent of those infected have a multi-drug resistant strain. The strain comes from giving people improper treatment with antibiotics.
Hospitals give incomplete treatment because they get inconsistent supplies of the drugs.
The TB bug is then able to mutate, and it develops a resistant strain. Doctors say they understand they're creating a problem, but they want to treat people as best as possible. Thus, they give people the drugs and hope for the best. Basic conditions in the prisons Underfunded prisons are overcrowded. Prisoners are also undernourished.