WHO declares antibiotic shortage due to surge in respiratory infections

Acute shortage of antibiotics, in particular amoxicillin, is observed in 80% of 35 countries, the WHO said. They believe that countries did not expect a sharp increase in respiratory diseases in the first year after the easing of measures against COVID-19

A surge in respiratory illness following the lifting of restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a shortage of antibiotics, including penicillin and amoxicillin, Lisa Hedman, head of the World Health Organization's (WHO) drug supply and access team, told the Financial Times. .

Severe shortages of antibiotics, particularly amoxicillin, occur in 80% of the 35 countries for which WHO collects data, Hedman says.

Amoxicillin shortages were reported in the US and Canada, and antibiotic shortages in general were reported by 25 of the 27 EU countries, the newspaper writes.

According to Hedman, "Countries did not expect respiratory infections to hit so hard in the first year after the phase-out of medical masks." The fact is that during the pandemic, a decrease in demand for antibiotics and a serious strain on supply chains forced pharmaceutical companies to reduce the production of antibiotics.

Rospotrebnadzor recommended that Muscovites wear masks due to SARS and influenza Society

In early November, The Wall Street Journal wrote about the increase in the number of cases of respiratory diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cumulative flu hospitalization rate in the United States was the highest at this time of year in ten years since 2010-2011, at 2.9 cases per 100,000 people. In addition, along with the increase in the number of cases of respiratory viruses, there is also a risk of a tridemic - a triple pandemic of coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), writes WSJ.

In Russia, in recent months, there has also been an increase in influenza and SARS. Rospotrebnadzor reported a 15.8% increase in respiratory infections this week. Most often, Russians get sick with influenza (70%), the most common of the viruses is A (H1N1) 2009 (swine flu). Among other respiratory viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, rhinoviruses and metapneumoviruses are in the lead. In some regions, a partial mask regime is being introduced, schools and kindergartens have begun to close for quarantine or leave earlier for the winter holidays, and the burden on the ambulance service has increased dramatically.

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