Antibiotics from animal husbandry are a threat to human health and the environment

Coughs and sniffles, colds and flu? Every winter, there is a sharp rise in the number of people suf-fering from these infections. In many cases, doctors prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are highly ef-fective, potentially life-saving pharmaceuticals – but only as a treatment for bacterial infections. They have no effect on viral infections, which are the cause of ninety percent of infectious respiratory ill-nesses. The inappropriate or excessive use of antibiotics has substantial risks, because it contrib-utes to the development of resistant bacteria, which renders these antibiotics less and less effective. As a result, there may no longer be a cure for some bacterial infections. Multidrug-resistant patho-gens have become a serious global problem that threatens human health and the environment.