Drug-resistant superbugs projected to kill 39 million by 2050
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00:00Antibiotic resistance, a problem reaching crisis levels.
00:04According to a recent study published in The Lancet,
00:07over 39 million people could die from drug-resistant infections
00:11in the next 25 years if urgent action isn't taken.
00:15And it's not just direct deaths.
00:17The study warns of an additional 169 million lives lost indirectly
00:21due to complications associated with antibiotic resistance.
00:25For Perspective, by 2050,
00:27researchers say deaths associated with antibiotic resistance
00:30could increase by up to 75% from what we're seeing today.
00:34The study also highlights how low- and middle-income countries
00:37are said to bear the brunt of the crisis,
00:39especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
00:42These regions already experience the highest rates
00:45of antibiotic-resistance-related deaths,
00:47driven primarily by infections like multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis.
00:52The elderly are also most at risk from antimicrobials,
00:55with deaths up by 80% in the past three decades amongst over-70s.
00:59And the economic impact is equally concerning.
01:02Researchers predict that by 2030,
01:04the global economy could suffer losses of up to $3.4 trillion annually.
01:09The ripple effects of this burden could strain healthcare systems
01:12and hurt national economies,
01:14particularly in countries that can least afford it.
01:17The report suggests that measures like improving care for serious infections,
01:21developing new vaccines and promoting judicious use of antibiotics
01:25could save up to 92 million lives between now and 2050.
01:29These findings come just days ahead of a UN General Assembly meeting on the issue,
01:33highlighting the urgent need for global cooperation.