Health officials are struggling to understand the scope of the problem because many countries are ill-equipped to monitor drug-resistant infections. “We are flying pretty blind and working hard to get some clear vision,” said Sally Davies, the chief medical officer of England and a leader of the United Nations panel. By contrast, 19 new antimicrobial drugs were approved between 1980 and 1984. The dearth of new drugs is tied to the perverse economics of antimicrobial resistance and the free market. According to the World Bank, such investments would quickly pay for themselves; it notes that containing antimicrobial resistance costs $9 billion annually.

Source: International New York Times April 29, 2019 23:15 UTC