Drug-resistant superbugs found in rivers near Norfolk farms

Researchers for World Animal Protection, the Alliance to Save our Antibiotics and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism tested rivers alongside a dozen pig and poultry farms, including five in Norfolk.

They found bacteria including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) which can cause illness in humans and animals - and they claim some samples contained resistance genes to antibiotics used in human medicine.

They called on the government to ban the preventative use of antibiotics on healthy farm animals to reduce the risks to human health.

The overuse of antibiotics, in both human medicine and agriculture, has reduced their effectiveness and led to the rise of "superbugs" - bacterial strains which can no longer be treated by certain drugs.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been described by the World Health Organisation as "one of the biggest threats to global health today", and the latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency show an average of 148 serious infections occurred per day last year which did not respond to antibiotics - up by 2.2pc on the previous pandemic year.

Although the new animal antibiotics study found no evidence that higher-welfare farms are contributing to superbugs in the environment, rivers alongside five of the eight intensive farms tested had more of at least one type of resistance downstream than upstream.

"This suggests resistance is entering the environment from these farms," concludes the report.

Zoe Leach is the East Anglia regional director for the National Farmers' Union (Image: NQ)

Zoe Leach, the East Anglia regional director for the National Farmers Union, said UK agriculture is "a leader when it comes to the responsible use of antibiotics".

The latest annual UK Veterinary Antibiotic Resistance and Sales Surveillance (UK-VARSS) report, published earlier this month, showed sales of antibiotics for use in livestock had reduced by 55pc since 2014.

"There have been hugely positive voluntary achievements across the industry in reducing their use – now at their lowest levels since 2014," she said.

“Our farmers are continuing to work hard to protect animal health and welfare, using alternative strategies such as vaccines and engaging with vets in various initiatives which focus on data collection and preventive health care and animal husbandry.”

But campaigners say far greater reductions are needed.

Lindsay Duncan, farming campaigns manager for World Animal Protection, said: “Our report shows that our rivers are awash with superbugs.

"We are calling on the UK government to act now, to raise welfare standards, prevent suffering and ban routine preventative use of antibiotics on farm animals.

"If the welfare of farm animals was improved, there would be no need for this dangerous and unnecessary use of antibiotics that is such a threat to human health."

A Defra spokesman said: "We do not support routine preventative use of antibiotics in animals - they should not compensate for poor husbandry practices and we will continue to look into strengthening legislation in this area."

Following the publication of the recent UK-VARSS report, Cat McLaughlin, chairman of the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance, said: "All [livestock] sectors continue to strive to keep antibiotics effective and fit for purpose and only use them when necessary.

“The successes to date across the industry has put the UK ahead of most food-producing EU countries and the current RUMA targets up to 2024, further reinforce the ongoing commitment across all the sectors to achieve sustainable reductions. 

“Antibiotic stewardship is now part of everyday language, with farmers and vets working collaboratively to embed best practice for responsible use across all sectors."