<
https://www.sciencealert.com/cleaning-up-pollution-could-help-prevent-the-next-silent-pandemic>
"Containing and cleaning up environmental pollution, especially in waterways,
is crucial to controlling increasingly bullet-proof superbugs which could kill
tens of millions by mid-century, a new UN report said Tuesday.
Superbugs – strains of bacteria resistant to antibiotics – are estimated to
have killed 1.27 million people in 2019, and the World Health Organization says
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the top global health threats on the
near-term horizon.
Up to 10 million deaths could occur every year by 2050 because of AMR, the UN
says.
The disinfectants, antiseptics, and antibiotics that can help microbes become
stronger are everywhere, from toothpaste and shampoo to cow's milk and
wastewater.
A new report Tuesday said pollution is a key driver in the "development,
transmission and spread" of AMR, calling for urgent action to clean up the
environment.
"With increasing pollution and lack of management of sources of pollution,
combined with AMR in clinical and hospital settings and agriculture, risks are
increasing," said the report from the UN Environment Programme.
Antimicrobial resistance is a natural phenomenon, but the overuse and misuse of
antibiotics in humans, animals, and plants has made the problem worse.
This means antibiotics may no longer work to fight the very infections they
were designed to treat."
Via Rixty Dixet.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
