The Alarming Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs Claims 2,000 Lives in the UK
Resistant E. coli and Salmonella associated with antibiotic use in factory farms in 2022 caused almost 2000 human deaths and could rise to over 2,400 a year by 2050 according to World Animal Protection UK’s new report ‘Is Factory Farming Killing us’.
The research — undertaken by University of Bologna Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences’ scientist Massimo Canali and released today, also calculated for the first time a £1.32 billion loss to the UK economy in 2022 because of work absences due to ill health linked to factory farming superbugs.
Additionally, the UK lost nearly 40,000 work years (disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2022 due to Escherichia coli and non-typhoidal Salmonella linked to antibiotic use in factory farms, or nearly 20% of the total AMR illness toll in the UK (198,243.96 DALYs). Common bacteria like E. coli cause bacterial infections such as chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), and respiratory and skin problems.
Antibiotic resistance is a threat to human health, yet 75% of the world’s antibiotics are used on farmed animals. 80% of UK farmed animals live on factory farms where 75% of antibiotics are intended for whole herds, often routinely administered to prevent illness rather than treat it so that animals survive the…
