‘No one is speaking about it’
scientists to warn A new epidemic is taking shape as the public’s trust in data and science declines, making it difficult to effectively respond to looming threats.
What’s going on?
bordersa global leader in science publishing, opened its doors to leaders in Davos, Switzerland, in January to support solutions that promote healthy lives and a healthy planet.
In one of the sessions, Vanina Laurent-Ledru, chief public health and government affairs officer at Institut Mérieux and bioMérieux, spoke It’s about the next epidemic that scientists fear could kill more people than cancer by 2050: antimicrobial resistance, or AMR.
“No one is talking about it,” Ledru said worryingly.
Adèle James, co-founder and chief technology officer of biotech firm Phagos, echoed these sentiments, referring to AMR as a “silent epidemic.”
Why is AMR a concern?
As Jeff Goldblum’s famous character in question “Life finds a way” in Jurassic Park. That’s essentially what happens with AMR, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Microbes may develop defense strategies against antibiotics and antifungals to survive,” the agency said. wrote. (Unlike bacteria, viruses technically taken into account but they are lifeless AMR umbrella.) These microbes can then share their defense mechanisms with microbes that have not been exposed to antibiotics or antifungals.
This is a serious problem because modern medicine relies heavily on these treatments for life-saving procedures and curing infections that would otherwise be fatal. Antibiotics alone are thought to extend the average human lifespan by more than twenty years.
“Experts in Davos say the threat is clear, but worry that without urgent action the world may once again wait too long to act,” Newsweek said. reported Frontiers Science House reports.
What is being done about this?
Germs can get it unintentionally helping hand from people in the fight for survival.
Studies show microplastics and air pollution play a role. Aspect HKM And World Health Organization We have documented that misuse and overuse of antibiotics accelerates microbial evolution. For example, antibiotics are effective against some bacterial infections. However, they are powerless against viral infections such as colds, flu and most sore throats.
Yet millions of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions are written every year in the United States. CDC researchers was discovered It is stated that approximately one-third of prescriptions are unnecessary.
Many speakers at Davos discussed the emergence of promising adaptive therapies such as phage-based drugs. But they also emphasized the need to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and promote health-promoting behaviors, including proper hygiene (e.g. hand washing).
“Future mortality will depend on how health systems, policymakers, and societies currently address risks,” Frontiers said. concluded.
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