The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday launched a two-year multi-billion dollar plan designed to prevent the spread of extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and save many millions of lives worldwide.

The agency is appealing for the collection of more than $2 billion to implement the plan, which if done on time, could save as many as 134,000 lives over the next two years

An Atlanta lawyer who flew on two trans-Atlantic flights, potentially exposing hundreds to extremely virulent and drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis (known as XDR-TB) is expected to undergo surgery in Denver to remove a part of his lung.

Andrew Speaker, 31, will have a tennis-ball sized piece of his lung removed in July. The section contains most of the XDR-TB bacteria and doctors hope that by removing it, Speaker's infection will be contained. The section will be removed through a two inch incision in Speaker's side. If the operation fails, doctors will have to make a larger incision that will take longer to heal

The father and future father-in-law of a tuberculoses infected man who went on a European wedding excursion despite warnings from health officials, initially did little to stop the man from traveling, according to a news report.

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that a review of government emails about the case showed that Andrew Speaker's father-in-law, an expert on TB, declined to stop the man's wedding trip to Greece and even attended the ceremony. The emails also suggested that Speaker's father, was terse during phone conversations with health officials, the AP reported

The members of the Group of Eight have agreed on a program to spend more than $60 billion to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa, Germany's development minister, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, said Friday. Between now and 2015, the United States will provide about half of the money, and Germany will contribute about $5.4 billion.

Wieczorek-Zeul said on state ZDF television, "That has been agreed upon

The U.S. Congress on Wednesday began its investigation into the entry of a man with a dangerous form of tuberculosis into the country, which several lawmakers claim exposed loop holes in the nation's security.

The House Homeland Security Committee, chaired by Bennie Thompson, conducted the hearing after 31-year-old Andrew Speaker from Atlanta caused an international health scare.

Border officials testifying in Congress pointed to a lone officer as the culprit of allowing Speaker into the country after receiving a computer alert to detain him and contact health authorities