India Refutes Being Linked to New Superbug

Claim that drug-resistant superbugs had spread from India to the U.K. rejected by the Indian Health Ministry.
India Refutes Being Linked to New Superbug
8/12/2010
Updated:
8/12/2010
The claim that drug-resistant superbugs had spread from India to the U.K., as reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on Thursday, was strongly rejected by the Indian Health Ministry, calling it “malicious propaganda,” reports the BBC.

Some patients who underwent surgical treatments in India and Pakistan returned with the NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase) gene, existing in bacteria like E.coli, reported British medical experts.

The NDM-1 can enable bacteria to become resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics, such as carbapenems.

Several MPs gathered in Parliament to address the so-called “conspiracy” against India.

“When India is emerging as a medical tourism destination, this type of news is unfortunate and may be a sinister design of multinational companies,” said MP S.S. Ahluwalia, according to the BBC.

Britain’s scientists said that because of medical tourism “NDM-1 will spread worldwide,” as reported Reuters.

Currently in the U.K., about 50 infected patients have been confirmed.

Cases have also been reported in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands.