Superbug?! ????
What picture does the word create in your mind? A bug in a Superman suit or one that shoots lasers from its eyes? Well, it's neither.
Superbugs are bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics. Each year, they infect many people.
Antibiotics treat bacterial infections like pneumonia and ear infections, but their unnecessary use helps create drug-resistant bacteria or superbugs.
Superbug found on the ISS.
Scientists discovered a superbug named Enterobacter bugandensis on surfaces within the International Space Station (ISS).
Researchers are studying it. This finding has raised health concerns for the astronauts, including Indian-origin astronaut Sunita Williams, currently onboard the ISS.
This bacteria infects the respiratory system and has adapted to the ISS's environment, making it difficult to manage.
In space, astronauts' health is at risk due to limited healthcare and changed immunity conditions. So, scientists say that it's essential to study the ISS microbes to protect astronauts. They're also studying the superbug to develop ways to fight it.
How does space affect the immune system of astronauts?
Space travel weakens the human immune system by reducing key bodily functions. Astronauts face environmental changes like microgravity, radiation, etc., further impacting their immunity.
