SnowbirdAlert www.newscanada.com Superbugs are more than just the latest health scare ‒ they’re a very real threat which could mean that curing common illnesses such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections may soon not be as simple as a quick trip to the doctor and a prescription for an antibiotic. A superbug is a micro-organism (such as a bacterium, virus or parasite) that has developed resistance to more than one drug ‒ antimicrobials such as antibiotics ‒ that are used to eliminate it. Antimicrobial resistance is becoming an increasingly serious issue, so it’s important to learn more about superbugs and what we can do to stop them. Here are five facts you need to know. 1. A global concern. The World Health Organization is calling antimicrobial resistance a global health emergency. If present trends continue, it’s projected to become one of the leading causes of death, exceeding even cancer. 2. Who is at risk? According to the WHO, anyone of any age, in any country, can get an antibiotic-resistant infection. People who are most at risk of experiencing severe consequences from superbugs include younger children, older adults, pregnant women and those with compromised immune systems due to a chronic illness. Resistant infections are more difficult and take longer to treat, may require hospitalization and can be accompanied by more severe side-effects and expensive treatments. 3. A post-antibiotic era is possible. When antibiotics were first discovered, they were hailed as wonder drugs that could easily cure what were once considered fatal illnesses. With superbugs, we’re at risk of returning to a time at which common infections and complications from minor surgery can be deadly. 4. We need diagnostics. A key priority for combating antibiotic resistance is ensuring that only those who will benefit from an antibiotic are prescribed one. Health experts believe that the best way to do this is by decreasing demand through advanced methods for diagnosis that can determine if an illness can be treated by an antibiotic and, if so, which one. That’s why more research is needed in the areas of prevention, diagnostics and surveillance. 5. You can help. As doctors and scientists work to tackle superbugs, you can contribute to these efforts by staying up-to-date on your vaccinations (which help prevent infections) and by frequent hand-washing, which is the best way to stop the spread of infections. Take antibiotics only when prescribed and as indicated by a certified health professional ‒ that means finishing your prescribed treatment even if you feel better, as the infection might not be completely gone. Find more information at amr.bd.com/en-ca. The holiday season is prime time for fraudsters, so it’s important to be vigilant when hunting down deals and searching for the best gifts online. Here are some tips to keep your personal and credit card information safe: ◆◆ Shop only on secure websites. Double-check that the website address begins with “https://” (the “s” stands for secure). ◆◆ Pay by credit card if you can. Never send cash. ◆◆ Be on the lookout for prices that are too good to be true. They’re likely counterfeits. ◆◆ Don’t use public Wi-Fi to shop online. Wait to get home, or use your data plan. ◆◆ Read the site’s privacy policy and find out how your information will be used. ◆◆ Don’t respond to an e-mail or pop-up message that asks for financial information. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information this way. ◆◆ Read your credit card statements and check for unauthorized charges. ◆◆ Don’t allow auto-fill for your passwords or personal information ‒ such as your address ‒ and never allow a site to store your credit card information. Find more tips online at canada.ca/money. SUPERBUGS 5 facts you need to know Protect yourself from ONLINE SHOPPING SCAMS 6 | www.snowbirds.org
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