How unchecked superbugs will kill more people than cancer by 2050

Experts warned that unless drug-resistant bugs are dealt with accordingly, the world may have to spend $100trn by 2050 to fight them.

16:06 11 December 2014

According to some experts, superbugs could kill over 10 million people a year by 2050 if urgent action is not taken.

Drug-resistant infections are already killing thousands of people across the world. However, economist Jim O’Neill said that the number will only get worse.

"Drug-resistant infections already kill hundreds of thousands a year globally, and by 2050 that figure could be more than 10 million," he said.

"The economic cost will also be significant, with the world economy being hit by up to $100trn (£63.6trn) by 2050 if we do not take action.

"We cannot allow these projections to materialise for any of us, especially our fellow citizens in the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) and Mint (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey) world, and our ambition is such that we will search for bold, clear and practical long term solutions."

Prime Minister David Cameron has previously stated that superbugs are “very real and worrying threat that could send medicine back into the dark ages.”

Professor Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, said the latest research is "compelling".

She said: "We all know that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is important. This is a compelling piece of work, which takes us a step forward in understanding the true gravity of the threat.”