9 November 2017, Geneva/Rome/Paris - In the lead-up to World Antibiotic Awareness Week (13-19 November 2017), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are together calling for responsible use of antibiotics in humans and animals to reduce the emergence of antibiotic resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world and threatening our ability to treat common infectious diseases.

Infections affecting people - including pneumonia, tuberculosis, blood poisoning and gonorrhoea - and animals alike are becoming harder, and sometimes impossible, to treat as antibiotics become less effective.

Antibiotics are often overprescribed by physicians and veterinarians and overused by the public. Where they can be bought for human or animal use without a prescription, the emergence and spread of resistance is made worse.

Examples of misuse include taking antibiotics for viral infections like colds and flu, and using them as animal growth promoters on farms or in aquaculture.

To tackle these problems, WHO, FAO and OIE are leveraging their expertise and working together in a ‘One Health' approach to promote best practices to reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes in both humans and animals.

"Antibiotic resistance is a global crisis that we cannot ignore," says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. "If we don't tackle this threat with strong, coordinated action, antimicrobial resistance will take us back to a time when people feared common infections and risked their lives from minor surgery."

"The overuse of antimicrobials blunts their effectiveness, and we must reduce their misuse in food systems," says José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of FAO. "Antimicrobial veterinary medicines are a crucial tool for animal health and welfare and safe food production, but they are by no means the only tool."

"Like in human health, veterinary medicine has tremendously progressed thanks to antibiotics. Preserving their efficacy and availability through their responsible use associated with good husbandry and prevention practices, is therefore essential to preserve animal health and welfare," highlights Dr Monique Eloit, Director-General of OIE.

Launch event Ahead of World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2017, media are invited to a discussion on progress and priorities for combatting antimicrobial resistance taking place at WHO headquarters in Geneva on Friday 10 November from 9:00-10:00h.   Speakers include:

• Dr Marc Sprenger - Director, Antimicrobial Resistance Secretariat, World Health Organization (WHO)
• Dr Matthew Stone - Deputy Director General, International Standards and Science, World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
• Dr Hendrick Jan Ormel - Senior Veterinary Policy Advisor, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Journalists wishing to attend the event should contact Sarah Cumberland at WHO. About the week During World Antibiotic Awareness week, WHO, FAO and OIE will reach out to the general public, health professionals, governments, farmers, veterinarians, the food and feed industry and others via a social media campaign using infographics, quizzes, and success stories to raise awareness of the need to act on antibiotic resistance and what kinds of steps we can take.

The main message this year stresses the importance of getting guidance from a qualified healthcare or veterinary professional before using antibiotics to reduce overuse and ensure that illnesses get the most appropriate treatment.