Rome – Global demand for meat has not reduced even after a new study revealed increased alarming rates at which antibiotics are being used to boost livestock especially in the developing countries. The move is expected to intensely increase the risky creation of drug resistant “super bugs”.
Consumption of eggs, milk and meat is on the rise in most of these developed and middle income countries. According to a scientist with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Tim Robinson, there is increased urbanization which has led to higher income, spending power resulting tochanges of diets because of increased wealth. As a result, livestock producers and keepers have to get a better way of maintaining this lifestyle hence the increased use of antibiotics.
However, Robinson has warned over the risk that may be generated from E. coli and salmonella bacteria which are said to have become resistant to the antibiotics. “Doctors are having such a hard time in treating the infections that have been caused by these drugs – resistant bacteria”. He emphasized.
A 65% increase in the use of antibiotics in animals in expected between 2010 and 2030. It will be higher by whole 200% in countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China. As a result, the study indicates that it will be very hard for common infections to respond to drugs hence even the slightest infection would lead to death of persons.
Apparently Asia is said to the hub where demand for livestock products is dramatically on the rise. This has left many experts wondering and as result they have concluded that most likely there are no regulations governing the use of antibiotics in animals or the regulations are not publically known.
There is an estimation that 805Million people sleep on empty stomachs every night. However, Robinson said that this is enough justification of having antibiotic fueled breeding of livestock so as to increase food production. After all,the poor people are the worst affected since they cannot afford drugs to fight the infections.