David Cameron's war on infections: 'Superbugs risk taking us back to the dark ages'

David Cameron has vowed that Britain will lead a global fight against antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

17:42 02 July 2014

As thousands of people are dying due to infections that are resistant to treatment, Prime Minister David Cameron has vowed that Britain will lead the world in fighting antibiotic-resistant bugs. 

 

Cameron added that immediate action is required to stop the world from being “cast back into the dark ages of medicine.” 

 

Mr Cameron said: 'For many of us, we only know a world where infections or sicknesses can be quickly remedied by a visit to the doctor and a course of antibiotics.

 

'This great British discovery has kept our families safe for decades, while saving billions of lives around the world.

 

'But that protection is at risk as never before.

 

'Resistance to antibiotics is now a very real and worrying threat, as bacteria mutates to become immune to its effect.'

 

'This is not some distant threat but something happening right now', he added. 'If we fail to act, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine where treatable infections and injuries will kill once again.

 

'That simply cannot be allowed to happened and I want to see a stronger, more coherent global response, with nations, business and the world of science working together to up our game in the field of antibiotics.

 

'Following discussions at the G7 last month, I have asked the economist Jim O’Neil to work with a panel of experts and report back to me and other world leaders on how we can accelerate the discovery and development of a new generation of antibiotics.

 

Meanwhile, Professor Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, supports the prime minister. She said: 'We must act now on a global scale to slow down antimicrobial resistance.

 

'In Europe, at least 25,000 people a year already die from infections which are resistant to our drugs of last resort. New antibiotics made by the biotech and pharmaceutical industry will be central to resolving this crisis, which will impact on all areas of modern medicine.

 

'I am delighted to see the Prime Minister taking a global lead by commissioning this review to help new antibiotics to be developed and brought to patients effectively.'