this report is from Britain from the threat is world wide. as long as we permit and encourage industrial agriculture to flourish without any limitations other than the hopeful glance and a prayer that it won't kill anyone, continuing to treat animals as machines and the earth as a mechanical factory instead of an organic system, then these problems are only going to multiply.-nosmokes
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original-The HeraldSuperbug linked to antibiotic used on farmsJAMES MORGAN December 23 2006
The use of antibiotics on farms should be reduced because of suspected links with a superbug in humans, an organic food group claimed yesterday.
A virulent strain of E-coli which has killed at least 57 people in the UK has been found on 10 cattle farms in the UK since 2004.
Meanwhile, human cases of the superbug are rising fast, according to Health Protection Scotland. In 1998, there were 28 cases of this type of E-coli in Scotland, but in 2005 the number rose to 1067.
The bacterium causes blood poisoning and urinary tract infections, and is potentially fatal to the elderly and hospital patients.
The strain produces enzymes called extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBLs) which stop many drugs working, including penicillin.
Most people contract ESBL in hospital, but concerns have been raised that the infection may spread through meat and milk products.
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