One consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, is that wild animals seem to be getting a lot of the blame for passing agents of disease to humans. It turns out, however, that humans reciprocate. Antibiotic resistant bacteria have been generated by our overuse of antibiotics (by using them for trivial or inappropriate [e.g. viral] infections as well as employing these agents as growth enhancers in animals bred to supply meat). There is consequently a danger of us entering a world where our antibiotics no longer work on bacterial infections. An Australian scientist, Dr Michelle Power, has reportedly detected antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria in the faeces of a wide range of animals in Antarctica and Australia (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/19/we-cant-blame-animals-human-pathogens-are-making-their-way-into-vulnerable-wildlife). The beasts harbouring these human-engineered bacteria include bats (take that, you Covid spreaders!); penguins, sea lions and wallabies. In fact, any species that lives in close association with humans, either by being urbanised or maintained in a conservation breeding programme, seems likely to carry antibiotic resistant bacteria.Storing up more trouble?
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