Superbacteria better than hackers. They will issue a global economy for approx. 1.7 trillion. annually

Superbacteria, or microorganisms resistant to antibiotics, can kill millions of people by 2050 and cost a global economy of approx. 1.7 trillion. annually – we read in a report published by the Think Thank Global Development Center (CGD). The inhabitants of China, the USA and the EU will suffer the most.

The study financed by the British government calculated the health and economic burden resulting from antibiotics resistance in 122 countries. In the most pessimistic scenario until 2050, Chinese GDP losses may be slightly below $ 722 billion. annually, in the USA – $ 295.7 billion, EU – $ 187 billion, and in Japan – $ 65.7 billion.

The main author of the report, political scientist and economist Anthony McDonnell, in an interview with the “Guardian” daily, pointed out that the increase in antibiotics resistance indicators is influenced by, among others Cutting development aid made by the administration of US President Donald Trump, as well as a reduction in budgets for this purpose by the governments of Great Britain, Germany and France.

In his opinion, continuing to conduct such a policy “can lead to the death of millions of people around the world, including the seven richest countries in the world.” “Investing in the treatment of bacterial infections already saves life, and in a long -term perspective will bring economic benefits in the form of billions of dollars,” said McDonnell.

The newspaper cited the calculations of the Washington University in Seattle, which estimated that by 2050 the number of deaths caused by resistance to antimicrobials will increase by 60 percent. It is anticipated that in the United States alone, 1.34 million people will die due to antibiotic bacteria every year, and 184,000 in Great Britain, with an increase in the number of people seriously ill with bacteria resistant to other drugs.

Infection with superbacteria also increases the number of hospitalizations and extends stays in hospitals. It is estimated that this will increase global treatment costs by approx. $ 176 billion, with $ 15.5 billion only in the USA. up to $ 57 billion

At the same time, CGD said that if the countries invested in the fight against superbacteria, e.g. by increasing access to new antibiotics and high quality of treatment of these infections, the US economy could increase by $ 156.2 billion. annually, and Great Britain by $ 12 billion, each year for the next quarter of a century.

From London Marta Zabłocka (PAP)

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