On air: Your questions about the new superbug
| 16:40 UK time, Thursday, 12 August 2010
This topic was discussed on World Have Your Say on 12 August 2010. .
A new superbug called NDM-1 which is drug resistant has got you talking. Cases have been found in the UK, US, Netherlands, Canada, Australia and Sweden.
Update : Professor Timothy Walsh from Cardiff University one of the authors of the study published in the Lancet will be on the programme from 1800-1830BST ready to take your questions.
Conservative Liberal posts on the Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail
So we've now heard there's a new bug in town... We've heard that there's no antibiotic for it... We've heard that all the big Pharma are looking for more money for "research"... But most importantly, what are the symptoms? You tried hard with the H1N1 fear campaign, and really I don't think you can fool us twice... first was the virus and now its bacteria? What are we to believe anymore?‎
KiranKS tweets ‎:
There's hardly any talk in media about NDM-1, the new superbug found in South #Asia, that's resistant to most antibiotics. Scary!
Jonathan Edwards also comments on the globe and mail
Good-bye H1N1. We hardly knew you. Hello NDM-1 . Panic de Jour.
Scientists from and the UK published an article in the medical journal the , saying that the bacteria travelled back with patients who went to India and Pakistan for medical treatments such as cosmetic surgery. Take a look at this questions and answers page on the 91Èȱ¬ which explains more.
Dr David Livermore, one of the researchers and who works for the UK's Health Protection Agency (HPA), said:
"There have been a number of small clusters within the UK, but far and away the greater number of cases appear to be associated with travel and hospital treatment in the Indian subcontinent. This type of resistance has become quite widespread there. The fear would be that it gets into a strain of bacteria that is very good at being transmitted between patients."
Doctors and medical authorities in India have played down the risk of an international public health scare. The Indian Council of Medical Research director general VM Katoch in :
"While resistance to antibiotics is a matter of concern, it is unfair to cast aspersions on a country. There is no need to panic,"
But people do seem to be panicking a warning has been issued to planning hospital treatment overseas, and more cases are being reported around the world in places like in and
So we will get an expert on today's programme to answer your questions and discuss about the new superbug.
