Media release

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BRIEFING ALERT: Australia needs to act now to stop superbugs 

NEWS BRIEFING: Monday 27 Feb 2023 at 11:00 AEDT ONLINE

Australia needs to establish national, coordinated leadership now to mitigate the threat of superbugs, according to a new report from the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) and CSIRO. 

The report looks at the technologies we need now and, in the future, to combat the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which estimates say could kill 10 million people each year by 2050, and cost the world economy US$100 trillion. 

From kitchen sprays that change colour when nasty bugs are present, to toilets that detect and disarm harmful microbes before they reach our waterways, technology has huge potential to change the future that Australia is facing. But it needs coordination and support to fast track solutions and get them into our shops and homes.

The report looks at what 2050 might be like if we miss the window to act, where small infections will once again be life threatening, resulting in declining life expectancy, and skyrocketing healthcare costs.

Join this briefing to hear from the experts behind the report.

Speakers:

• Dr Branwen Morgan is the Lead of the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Mission, CSIRO
• Ms Sue MacLeman is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE), and Chair and Non-Executive Director of MTPConnect Ltd.