medicine

The 193 countries of the United Nations have signed a landmark declaration to rid the world of drug-resistant infections or superbugs. Six years in the making, the international commitment could prevent 700,000 deaths a year, say experts.

It is the fourth time a UN declaration has been reached on a health issue, following HIV in 2001, non-communicable diseases in 2011 and Ebola in 2013. The signatories now have two years to report back with an action plan.

Experts say treatment-resistant infections pose one of the biggest known threats to humanity today.