Obama’s Plan for Fighting Superbugs
Obama’s Plan for Fighting Superbugs – President Obama has announced a five-year plan for dealing with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause two million illnesses and nearly 23,000 deaths every year, and must be dealt with urgently. Obama’s plan will support quick testing and reporting on superbugs around the country, and calls for maintaining a database of superbugs, new tests for detecting emerging bacteria, and research on new antibiotics and vaccines.
The plan would also encourage global cooperation on this issue, and creation of a global database for animals. The plan also includes approaches for slowing the spread and growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by reducing neeedless antibiotic prescriptions by 50% in doctor’s offices, and 20% in hospitals. The plan also provides ways to control antibiotic-use in animals raised for food.
Critics point out that the limits and restrictions on antibiotic use is voluntary in nature, and hence, may not be effective.
Category: News
