Britain is at risk of an epidemic caused by antibiotic-resistant infections, according to government documents.
As many as 80,000 people could die in an outbreak of this kind, according to a civil service document.
The figure is contained in a national risk register and represents an estimate of the threat to the UK of the effect of failing to develop new antibiotics.
The register says 200,000 people could fall ill and 40% could die.
The charity Antibiotic Research UK welcomed the recognition of the threat posed by antibiotic resistance.
Chief executive Professor Colin Garner said: "The Risk Register report is a recognition that antibiotic resistance will become a major health threat if we don’t do something about the problem now.
"Our charity is determined to succeed in its goal of finding new antibiotics."
Leave a Reply