Drug-resistant superbugs could kill 40 million by 2050, study finds

A new global analysis predicts that drug-resistant superbugs could kill nearly 40 million people by 2050. This marks a significant increase in projected deaths from antimicrobial resistance, which has already caused over a million deaths annually since 1990. The study, published in The Lancet, highlights that deaths among older adults have surged by over 80% in the past three decades. In contrast, deaths among children under five have decreased by more than 50% due to improved infection control measures. Researchers analyzed data from 520 million records across 204 countries. They estimate that if current trends continue, deaths from antimicrobial resistance could rise to nearly two million annually by 2050, contributing to a total of 169 million deaths.