WHO warns that increasing use of antibiotics during COVID-19 pandemic will ultimately lead to more deaths
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND -- Increased antibiotics use in combating the COVID-19 pandemic will strengthen bacterial resistance and ultimately lead to more deaths during the crisis and beyond, the World Health Organization said Monday.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increased use of antibiotics, which ultimately will lead to higher bacterial resistance rates that will impact the burden of disease and deaths during the pandemic and beyond," Tedros told a virtual press conference from the WHO's Geneva headquarters.The WHO said only a small proportion of COVID-19 patients needed antibiotics to treat subsequent bacterial infections.
Highlighting inappropriate usage, he said there was an "overuse" of antibiotics in some countries, while in low-income states, such life-saving medicines were unavailable, "leading to needless suffering and death".Meanwhile the WHO said the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases had been severely disrupted since the COVID-19 pandemic began in December, following a survey of 155 countries.
The most common reasons for discontinuing or reducing services were cancellations of planned treatments, a decrease in available public transport and a lack of staff because health workers had been reassigned to COVID-19 treatment.The WHO warned about the dangers of mass gatherings, as protests rage in the United States and elsewhere over the killing of unarmed black man George Floyd, and as sports events begin a tentative resumption.
"With increasing social mixing and people coming together, particularly in areas if the virus is not under control, that close contact between people can pose a risk," answered the organization's COVID-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove -- stressing that she was speaking about mass gatherings in general."Physical distancing remains a very important aspect to control and suppression of transmission of COVID-19. This is not over yet," the expert said.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The mysterious case of the missing Cool Ranch DoritosThe pandemic has brought an end to the era of endless consumer choice — at least temporarily
Read more »
Feds Rushing Out $2.2B In Infrastructure Cash For Struggling CitiesThe money is rolling out months sooner than planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more »
Canadian named Princeton's first black valedictorian reflects on pandemic, anti-racism protests in his speechAs the first black valedictorian in Princeton University's 274-year history, Canadian student Nicholas Johnson used his address to the class of 2020 to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic and recent anti-racism protests in the U.S.
Read more »
The challenges of preparing for a hurricane amid the pandemicOn the first day of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Canadians and Americans in the Atlantic region are bracing for severe storms and hurricanes over the next few months.
Read more »
Heroes of the pandemic: Meet the Canadian hockey dad behind COVID-19 vaccine developer ModernaICYMI - Heroes of the pandemic: Meet the Canadian hockey dad behind COVID-19 vaccine developer Moderna
Read more »