Dogs and cats are passing antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” to their owners, suggests a new study. A pet in the UK and several in Portugal were found carrying similar antibiotic-resistant bacteria to their owners.
These could include E. coli bacteria and another linked with pneumonia, say scientists. They are calling for animal-loving households to be included in programmes to counter the spread of antimicrobial resistance, as it reaches dangerously high levels across the world.
Drug-resistant infections kill around 700,000 a year globally, a number projected to rise to 10 million by 2050 if no action is taken, leading the World Health Organisation (WHO) to dub it one the greatest public health threats facing humanity. Dogs, cats and other pets are already known to contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens that can cause human disease.
