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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/20/superbugs-could-kill-millions-more-and-cost-2tn-a-year-by-2050-models-show>
"Superbugs could cause millions more people to die worldwide and cost the
global economy just under $2tn a year by 2050, modelling shows.
A UK government-funded study shows that without concerted action, increased
rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could lead to global annual GDP losses
of $1.7tn over the next quarter of a century.
The research, by the Center for Global Development thinktank, found the US, UK
and EU economies would be among the hardest hit, prompting accusations that
recent swingeing aid cuts are self-defeating.
On Thursday, the UK government announced it was axing funding for the Fleming
fund, which combats AMR in low- and middle-income countries, as part of wider
aid cuts. The Trump administration has confirmed $9bn in cuts to its foreign
aid budget, while a number of European countries have also reduced spending on
overseas aid.
Anthony McDonnell, the lead author of the research and a policy fellow at the
Center for Global Development, said: “When we conducted our research on the
economic impacts of antimicrobial resistance, it was anticipated that
resistance rates would continue to follow historical trends.
“However, the sudden cuts to Official Development Assistance by the US, which
has cut its aid spend by roughly 80%; the UK, which has announced aid cuts from
0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income; and substantial reductions by France,
Germany, and others, could drive up resistance rates in line with the most
pessimistic scenario in our research.
“Even countries that have been successful in keeping AMR rates under control
cannot afford to be complacent. Unless AMR programmes are protected from aid
cuts, resistance rates across the world will likely increase at a rate in line
with the worst-affected countries.
“This would result in millions more people dying worldwide, including across G7
nations. Investing in treatment for bacterial infections now will save lives
and deliver billions in long-term economic returns.”
The research calculated the economic and health burden of antibiotic resistance
for 122 countries and forecast that in that in this most pessimistic scenario,
by 2050, GDP losses in China could reach just under $722bn a year, the US
$295.7bn, the EU $187bn, Japan $65.7bn and the UK $58.6bn."
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
