A recent study predicts that by 2050
about 10 million people will die each year as a result of
antibiotic-resistant infections. Now, according
to a new TIME article, the
problem looks even more serious.
about 10 million people will die each year as a result of
antibiotic-resistant infections. Now, according
to a new TIME article, the
problem looks even more serious.
The author explains:
A new study says the DNA from antibiotic-resistant bacteria
found in American cattle yards has become airborne, creating a new pathway by
which such bacteria can potentially spread to humans and hinder treatment of
life-threatening infections. …
found in American cattle yards has become airborne, creating a new pathway by
which such bacteria can potentially spread to humans and hinder treatment of
life-threatening infections. …
… [Researchers] found the air downwind of the yards
contained antibiotics, bacteria and a “significantly greater number of
microbial communities containing antibiotic-resistant genes.
contained antibiotics, bacteria and a “significantly greater number of
microbial communities containing antibiotic-resistant genes.
The bacteria are released into the air through dried cow
feces “that has become dust and gets picked up by winds as they whip through
the stockyards, and the study estimates that “the total amount released by
cattle yards in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas exceeds 46,000
lbs. (21,000 kg) per day.
feces “that has become dust and gets picked up by winds as they whip through
the stockyards, and the study estimates that “the total amount released by
cattle yards in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas exceeds 46,000
lbs. (21,000 kg) per day.
Sound terrifying? It should.
We can help stop the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria by leaving meat off our plates.
bacteria by leaving meat off our plates.
