Rising concern over drug-resistant germs prompts UN response
NEW YORK — World leaders are pushing to end the overuse of antibiotics and to encourage the development of new medicines, driven by concern that drug-resistant germs could lead to millions of deaths and undermine the global economy.
For only the fourth time in its 70 year history, the United Nations is holding a special meeting Wednesday devoted to a health issue: This time, on the rise of untreatable infections that is being propelled by the way drugs are overused and misused in both people and animals.
Health experts have long worried about the issue, but it is getting more alarming because germs are getting ever more difficult to treat, few new antibiotics are being developed, and the problem appears to be global already.
“We believe it’s probably everywhere,” said Dr. Keiji Fukuda of the World Health Organization, of the resistance to drugs.