WHO: Superbugs Pose 'Fundamental Threat To Human Health'
- 8 years ago
All member states of the United Nations are reportedly on board to fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs which the head of the World Health Organization has called “a fundamental threat to human health, development and security.”
World leaders are joining together to address a problem that Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has called “...a fundamental threat to human health, development and security.”
The BBC is reporting that all 193 members of the United Nations are on board to fight against superbugs which are infections that current drugs cannot treat.
A recent example is the mcr-1 gene, which has been shown to survive colistin, an antibiotic typically used as a last resort, notes NBC News.
The unified action was taken, in part, because at least 700,000 people are believed to die each year from these superbugs.
The World Bank Group has also predicted a large global economic loss from drug-resistant infections over the next few decades if action is not taken.
As part of the agreement, countries pledge to improve their monitoring of antibiotics, work on new drug development, and provide more education about the associated health risks.
World leaders are joining together to address a problem that Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, has called “...a fundamental threat to human health, development and security.”
The BBC is reporting that all 193 members of the United Nations are on board to fight against superbugs which are infections that current drugs cannot treat.
A recent example is the mcr-1 gene, which has been shown to survive colistin, an antibiotic typically used as a last resort, notes NBC News.
The unified action was taken, in part, because at least 700,000 people are believed to die each year from these superbugs.
The World Bank Group has also predicted a large global economic loss from drug-resistant infections over the next few decades if action is not taken.
As part of the agreement, countries pledge to improve their monitoring of antibiotics, work on new drug development, and provide more education about the associated health risks.