Super-bugs a big threat

MORE than a thousand cases of unstoppable “super-superbug” bacteria have been found in Australia in the past year, with experts warning more are on the way.

In its first year of operation, Australia’s national superbug alert system has detected the new bugs, which are far more dangerous than common multi-resistant bacteria.

Prof John Turnidge, senior medical adviser to the government’s resistance strategy, says the bugs he calls “super-superbugs” are resistant to all lastline defence antibiotics and are nearly untreatable.