FED: Australia named in rise in "untreatable" gonorrhoea

AAP General News (Australia)
04-30-2010
FED: Australia named in rise in "untreatable" gonorrhoea

The World Health Organisation's warned of a rise in untreatable gonorrhoea .. after
a spate of multi-resistant cases were detected .. including cases in Australia.

The WHO says improper use of antibiotics has already resulted in widespread resistance
to cheaper first-line treatments against the bacteria which cause the sexually transmitted
disease.

Isolated cases have now emerged in China .. Japan and Australia .. which indicate the
last-line treatment .. oral cephalosporin .. is also losing its effectiveness.

Dr SHIN YOUNG-SOO says if the pattern continues .. then it's only a matter of time
before gonorrhoea is fully resistant to those medications conventionally used to combat
it.

Health authorities in Newcastle last month warned of a spike in gonorrhoea cases.

AAP RTV dr/crh/psm/

KEYWORD: GONORRHOEA (SYDNEY)

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