Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm over a rapidly escalating global health threat, warning that antibiotic resistance is reaching critical levels worldwide. The organization’s latest report, drawing on data from more than 100 countries between 2016 and 2023, reveals that roughly one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections can no longer be treated effectively with standard antibiotics.

Resistance is increasing in about 40% of the monitored infections, outpacing the development of new medical treatments. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that antimicrobial resistance is advancing faster than medical innovation, posing a serious risk to global health systems.

The human toll is already high, with antibiotic-resistant infections responsible for over 1 million deaths each year. Certain regions are particularly hard-hit: nearly one-third of infections in South Asia and the Middle East are resistant to treatment, while parts of Africa report resistance to first-line treatments for some bloodstream infections exceeding 70%.

Experts point to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, livestock, and agriculture as the main drivers of this crisis. Dr. Ghebreyesus called for urgent measures to ensure responsible antibiotic use, along with equitable access to quality medicines, diagnostics, and vaccines.

The WHO’s warning highlights the urgent need for coordinated global action to prevent a future where once-treatable infections become deadly.