Fighting superbugs

The World Health Organization has identified antimicrobial resistance as a global health threat with the potential to eclipse COVID-19.

Transcript

00:00 The World Health Organisation has identified antimicrobial resistance as a global health

00:04 threat with the potential to eclipse COVID-19.

00:07 But what exactly is it?

00:10 Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, refers to bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites becoming

00:17 resistant to the drugs used to treat them.

00:20 This makes infections from these so-called 'superbugs' much harder to treat, meaning

00:24 longer hospital stays, higher healthcare costs and increased chance of death.

00:30 If left unchecked, AMR could kill 10 million people a year by 2050, with 80% of those likely

00:36 to be in developing economies.

00:39 It could also lead to a drastic drop in global GDP, as much as 3.5%.

00:44 India is already reeling.

00:46 Nearly 60,000 Indian newborns die each year due to antibiotic-resistant infections.

00:52 But scientists aren't backing down.

00:54 While developing new ways to tackle superbugs, they're also looking at better ways to monitor

00:59 them and promote responsible use of antimicrobial drugs in our healthcare systems.

01:04 Read what the experts have to say in 360info's special report on fighting superbugs.

01:09 Thanks for watching.