Deadly fungal infections pose ‘silent pandemic’ threat, could kill 40 million in 25 years
Scientists are urging both companies and governments to expand their focus beyond bacteria and address the challenges posed by infections.
A paper published in The Lancet illustrates the frightening growth of drug-resistant deadly fungal infections, with over a million deaths predicted by 2050. The report stresses the growing threat posed by resistance, referred to as a pandemic, which demands global attention.
Between 1900 and 2021, drug-resistant diseases killed approximately a million people per year. Without intervention, the annual death toll is expected to rise to two million by 2050, perhaps totaling 40 million deaths over the next quarter century.
Deadly Fungal Infection: How it Occurs
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria evolve and become resistant to medications meant to eliminate them. This resistance complicates the treatment of infections such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs) and diarrhea making them harder to manage and potentially life threatening. Similarly fungal pathogens have also demonstrated resistance to treatments.
The report emphasizes the global problem of resistance while neglecting the issue of infections. Norman van Rhijn, a researcher at the University of Manchester pointed out that the discussion fails to consider the dangers posed by fungi and their resistance to treatments despite their increasing importance as a health threat worldwide.
Scientists are urging both companies and governments to expand their focus beyond bacteria and address the challenges posed by infections. They warned that if no action is taken these infections could affect millions of people each year resulting in 8 million deaths annually.
One of the obstacles we face is the limited options available, for combating infections. Currently we have types of antifungal medications but resistance is spreading among them. While antifungal drugs have been developed researchers caution that the rise of strains is outpacing advancements in this field.
The agrochemical industry contributes to this issue by producing fungicides that work like medications leading to resistance, against vital antifungal treatments. In addition to posing health risks antifungal resistance impacts food security. Fungi that harm health also pose a threat, to crops. Researchers stress the importance of finding a balance between ensuring food security and developing new treatments for drug resistant fungal infections.
The study highlights the significance of initiatives aimed at improving access, to treatment raising awareness about the dangers of fungi and promoting research on antifungal drugs. Ignoring this problem could lead to a ‘silent pandemic’ of infections causing future fatalities.
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