‘Superbugs’ Kill India’s Babies and Pose an Overseas Threat

Hye Min Shin
December 14
AP Government

‘Superbugs’ Kill India’s Babies and Pose an Overseas Threat

In India, thousands of babies are dying due to "superbugs" that have grown resistance to antibiotics. Because people in India are exposed to filthy living conditions, they tend to contract diseases and bacteria easily. Due to prevalence of diseases, pharmaceutical companies sell antibiotics to anyone, without prescriptions. As a result, mutated bacteria that could resist antibiotics spread throughout India, killing thousands. Babies, who lack strong immune system, appear to be a common target. This poses a threat to the national security since spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria could threaten people all around the world and could lead to deaths of millions. In order to prevent this phenomenon, companies are advised to, “crack down on inappropriate antibiotic use in developing countries” and limit or stop “India’s industrialized animal husbandry, where antibiotics are widespread." Dr. Paul, chief of pediatrics at India Institute and the leader of research strongly believes Indian government should enforce more regulations regarding people’s sanitation and public health. 

I believe this problem is very concerning since these "Superbugs" could spread and kill people all around the world. For a problem that has such simple solution: improve sanitation and provide safe drinking water, the consequences seem to harsh. I hope people will help tackle this problem down before it becomes a national conflict. I wish another 3rd party regarding national health could rise and demonstrate to public how important it is to fix health threatening problems in other nations. 

Citation

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/04/world/asia/superbugs-kill-indias-babies-and-pose-an-overseas-threat.html