Scientist Warns Of ‘Real Apocalypse’ That Could Kill Approximately 10 Million People Per Year


False prophets have been predicting the end of the world and human extinction multiple times. Fortunately, all of their scary claims never became a reality. However, this time a “real apocalypse” could possibly happen that could kill at least 10 million people per year, according to one of the leading scientists in the United Kingdom.

Prof Dame Sally Davies, England’s chief medical officer, said that the world could face a “post-antibiotic apocalypse” if people don’t take immediate action on improper use of such drugs. If nothing is done, Davies warned that it could spell the “end of modern medicine.”

“We really are facing, if we don’t take action now, a dreadful post-antibiotic apocalypse. I don’t want to say to my children that I didn’t do my best to protect them and their children,” Davies said, per Telegraph. “The issue is too many people are getting antibiotics they don’t need. We don’t want patients thinking doctors are being mean. Research has found that often they think doctors are trying to save money, when in fact they are trying to save the drugs, so that they work when they are actually needed.

Most people are guilty of abusing the use of antibiotics to cure colds and viruses. However, the unnecessary use of antibiotics may cause the drug to become useless against drug-resistant strains of bacteria.

Britain could suffer post-antibiotic apocalypse
Biofilm of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. [Image by Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock]

According to rxlist.com, antibiotic resistance is the ability of bacteria or other microbes to resist the effects of an antibiotic. It occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections. In America, at least two million people are infected by antibiotic-resistant bacteria per year, based on the data published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It also leads to 23,000 deaths per year in America and approximately 700,000 all around the world. If the problem continues to worsen, the death rate is expected to rise up to 10 million per year by 2050. Prof Dame Sally Davies is currently starting to make a move to stop the “post-antibiotic apocalypse” from happening. In a conference of global experts, Davies revealed how she plans to address the problem.

Later this month, she is planning to launch a campaign urging patients to stop demanding antibiotics from their respective doctors. In the UK, Davies said that at least one of four prescribed antibiotics are unnecessary. If antibiotics become ineffective, it will be risky for people to undergo common medical interventions like caesarian section and cancer treatment.

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