Explained in plain English
What are 'superbugs'?
'Superbugs' are bacteria that have evolved to resist the antibiotics designed to kill them. This makes infections much harder to treat, sometimes impossible. The shigella strain mentioned in the story is a worrying example, as it's showing increasing resistance to key antibiotics, making it a distinct public health threat.
Stories that explain this
Sexually transmitted shigella cases growing faster and resisting antibioticsQuestions this opens up
How do bacteria get resistant? What are antibiotics? Are all bacteria bad?This explainer came from a news story
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