The latest data from the World Organisation for Animal Health reveals a concerning 2% increase in antimicrobial use in animals at the global level, after several consecutive years of significant decrease. 

Moreover, at least 11% of its members still use one or more of the highest priority critically important antimicrobials for human medicine, such as colistin, as growth promoters.

Progress toward optimal antimicrobial use shows signs of slowing down in the animal health sector. Antimicrobials are critical medicines whose effectiveness must be preserved for the treatment, control and, where appropriate, for the prevention of infectious diseases in animals, humans and plants. 

Resistance to these medicines has become a major concern, and it endangers everyone’s health. Although AMR is a natural phenomenon, it can be greatly accelerated by the improper use of antimicrobials in different sectors.

Read the latest WOAH report here.