The Growing Global Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance Ielts Reading Answers Verified !exclusive! Jun 2026

The "Silent Pandemic" of the 21st century isn’t a virus, but the fading power of our most reliable medicine: antibiotics [1, 2]. For decades, these "wonder drugs" turned once-fatal infections into minor inconveniences, but today, the global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rapidly escalating [2, 5]. The Rise of the Superbug

Globally, however, the largest volume of antibiotics is consumed not by humans, but by livestock. In industrial farming, animals are routinely fed subtherapeutic doses of antibiotics. Rather than treating sick animals, these drugs are used to promote growth and prevent infections in crowded, unsanitary factory farming conditions. This practice creates a massive reservoir of resistant bacteria that can easily jump to humans through the food chain, contaminated water run-off, or direct contact with agricultural workers. The Economic and Human Cost The "Silent Pandemic" of the 21st century isn’t

: New antibiotic development is less attractive to investors compared to other treatments, such as cancer chemotherapy , which is significantly more expensive. Key Vocabulary The Economic and Human Cost : New antibiotic

antibiotic-resistant

A prediction regarding future mortality rates linked to drug resistance. such as cancer chemotherapy