As because of a growing threat to human health, World Health Organization (WHO) has warned to stop the overuse of antibiotics in animals. These are usually used to promote the growth and prevent diseases in animals.
The new guidelines released by WHO says that using antimicrobial medicines on farm animals is one of the leading causes of the rise of superbugs, resistant to antibiotics. According to the WHO report, in some countries, about 80 percent of antibiotic use is on farm animals. Even in some countries where routine use for enhancing growth is banned, more antibiotics are used on animals than on humans.
Misuse and overuse of antibiotics are directly contributing to the growing threat of antibiotic resistance, WHO says. The director general of WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says that “A lack of effective antibiotics is as serious a security threat as a sudden and deadly disease outbreak”.
However, WHO has no power to enforce its guidelines, which are up to the decision of national governments.
