49 h. ago Cholera signs and treatment as cases in Europe linked to holy water imported from Ethiopia

A multi-drug resistant strain has been identified in the UK

Politics

6 d. ago Breakthrough as scientists find new antibiotic for STI 'superbug' on the rise in England

Scientists have found a potential antibiotic for drug-resistant gonorrhoea as cases rise

Politics

6 d. ago New gonorrhoea treatment hailed as breakthrough in fight against drug resistance

Researchers say gepotidacin could be delivered via a pill and help combat strains resistant to standard treatmentScientists have hailed a new antibiotic treatment for gonorrhoea, the first in three decades, which they said could help combat the global rise of drug-resistant infections.The sexually transmitted infection can result in serious complications if it is not treated promptly, especially for women, for whom it can lead to increased risks of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago Tuberculosis could end if there’s more US public health funding, experts say

Resurgence could be on horizon as outbreaks pick up speed in US and abroad amid public health program cutsAs tuberculosis outbreaks pick up speed in the US and abroad amid deep cuts in funding for local, state and international public health programs, a resurgence of the deadliest infectious disease – including drug-resistant tuberculosis – could be on the horizon.Increasing funding for public health responses could end tuberculosis (TB) altogether, says James Brookes, an IT specialist from Idaho, who told this to his representatives in Congress on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Science

1 week ago Streams of medicines: what’s hiding in the UK’s waterways? – podcast

The UK is known for its national parks: areas of outstanding natural beauty with rolling hills and crystal-clear streams and lakes. But research has shown that England’s most protected rivers are full of pharmaceuticals.In episode one of a two-part series, biodiversity reporter Phoebe Weston tells Madeleine Finlay about the problem of chemical pollution in our waterways, and how it could be contributing to what the World Health Organization has described as ‘the silent pandemic’ – antimicrobial resistance.‘Rivers you think are pristine are not’: how drug pollution flooded the UK’s waterways – and put human health at riskSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Could antibiotics stop working? Yes – but the biggest danger isn’t prescription

To prevent a catastrophic failure of the drugs modern medicine relies on, look to animal farming in middle-income countriesIf the antibiotics we use to treat infections ever stopped working, the consequences would be catastrophic. It is estimated that the use of antibiotics adds about 20 years of life expectancy for every person worldwide (on average). As the King’s Fund put it, if we lose antibiotics, “we would lose modern medicine as we know it”. Doctors, public health experts and governments take the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) very seriously, yet the problem appears to be getting worse.A report from the National Audit Office in February finds that out of five domestic targets set in 2019 to tackle AMR, only one has been met – to reduce antibiotic use in food-producing animals. Others, such as the target to reduce drug-resistant infections in humans by 10%, haven’t made much progress; in fact, these infections have actually increased by 13% since 2018.Prof Devi Sridh...

Politics

3 w. ago 'Super gonorrhoea' warning as health bosses say STI 'could become untreatable'

Drug resistant strains of gonorrhoea are on the rise with many linked to travel to South East Asia - the UKHSA has warned Brits to get tested if they have casual sex

Events

3 w. ago UK experts urge prioritising research into 24 types of deadly pathogen families

UK Health Security Agency’s tool highlights viruses and bacteria, many not yet seen in the country, that could pose biosecurity riskDeadly disease-causing organisms from pathogen families that include bird flu, plague and Ebola pose a threat to health in the UK and should be prioritised for research, government experts have said.The first tool of its kind from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) lists 24 types of viruses and bacteria where a lack of vaccines, tests and treatment, changes due to the climate crisis or growing drug resistance pose a biosecurity risk. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Plague of highly infectious scabies is sweeping Britain, spread by this very common activity. Even worse, the skin bugs are becoming resistant to drugs

It was, says 48-year-old Andrea Dowden, 'one of the worst experiences of my life'. The raised, red scabs, which seemed to appear overnight, covered the mother-of-two's body.

Events

4 w. ago Plague of highly infectious scabies is sweeping Britain and the skin bugs are becoming resistant to drugs

It was, says 48-year-old Andrea Dowden, 'one of the worst experiences of my life'. The raised, red scabs, which seemed to appear overnight, covered the mother-of-two's body.

Events