Queensland's health minister says a Torres Strait Islander has died from multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in what is thought to be the first death of an Australian citizen from the disease in the state.
Minister Lawrence Springborg could not confirm if the Torres Strait Islander contracted the tuberculosis from a Papua New Guinean citizen.
PNG has one of the highest rates of tuberculosis in the world, including difficult to treat drug resistant strains, especially in the Western Province on the international border with the Torres Strait.
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Last year the Queensland government controversially shut two TB clinics in the Torres Strait treating PNG patients, who were transferred back across the border under an AusAid program.
Mr Springborg told Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster the unnamed person died in Cairns Base Hospital.
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