Are antibiotics turning livestock into superbug factories? | Science | AAAS - 0 views
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Lottie Peppers on 01 Oct 17Almost 80% of all antibiotics in the United States aren't taken by people. They're given to cows, pigs, and chickens to make them grow more quickly or as a cheap alternative to keeping them healthy. These drugs could give rise to superbugs-bacteria that can't be treated with modern medicine-and things are only getting worse. In 2013, more than 131,000 tons of antibiotics were used in food animals worldwide; by 2030, it will be more than 200,000 tons. In a paper published today in Science, epidemiologist Thomas Van Boeckel of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and colleagues outline the growing threat-and what can be done about it. Boeckel spoke to us about his team's work. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.