Brexit the reason for spread of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea?

How Brexit affects infectious diseases

The spread of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains has continued to increase in recent years. Such resistance to antibiotics can become a real threat to all humanity. British health officials now warned that so-called Brexit may lead to an increase in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea.

Should Britain really leave the EU, it could lead to a dramatic increase in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea. At least British health officials warned against such a dramatic impact.

The UK's planned withdrawal from the EU may lead to an increase in antibiotic-resistant infectious diseases. (Image: tashatuvango / fotolia.com)

Cooperation between health authorities needs to be strengthened

People in the UK are already severely threatened by the infectious disease, say the experts. If the government is unable to develop a relationship between UK and EU health authorities, the threat will increase even further. Outbreaks of infectious diseases are currently under investigation by the UK and European Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Travel leads to the spread of the infection

It is feared that following the UK's exit from the EU, it might be difficult to maintain such a close working relationship. But because of the UK's proximity to the European mainland and the associated many trips in both directions, the risk of infection spreading is relatively high.

Diseases know no boundaries

At the moment, the biggest worry of the doctors is the uncertainty. It is not yet clear where such increased risk will lead, says Niall Dickson of the NHS Confederation to the Evening Standard. However, one effect is clear: the problem affects not only British patients but also people in Europe. It is in everyone's interest to maximize cooperation. Unfortunately, diseases have no limits, the researchers emphasize. Political interests must be put behind the interests of patients in the EU and the UK.

Good cooperation bears fruit

Using the example of a male infection in the UK with resistant gonorrhea, the experts explain the benefits of international cooperation. The collaboration between UK, EU and WHO authorities has allowed medical professionals to understand where the man was infected and then to further investigate whether the person has already passed the disease on to other people.

Infectious diseases get out of control through communication

By the time the case was confirmed, UK health experts said it was the first case of the disease that showed such high resistance to most common antibiotics. If the UK does not guarantee long-term access to ECDC systems after leaving the EU, infectious diseases may get out of control due to delays in communication, say the experts. (As)