US disease centre warns of ‘superbug’ risk

Hospitals could become ground zero for runaway CRE bacteria epidemic unless preventative measures are taken.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a dire warning about one of the most dangerous strains of bacteria, which resists all known antibiotics.

The strain is called CRE, and up to 70 percent of those infected by this bacteria die – and these are mainly hospital or nursing home patients.

So far, the number of CRE fatalities has been small, but unless tougher preventative measures are taken, hospitals could become ground zero for a runaway epidemic.

Al Jazeera’s Tom Ackerman reports from Baltimore.

Source: Al Jazeera