Scientists resort to honey in search of a solution to the major risks to global health

Antibiotic resistance occurs when microbes develop mechanisms that protect them from antibiotic effects, which is described as the greatest threat to global health today.

More than 1.2 million people died around the world in 2019 as a result of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, according to medical journal The Lancet.

The increasing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics threatens to return to the "pre-antibiotic stage", which poses a major threat to global health and security.

With the continued spread of antibiotic-resistant infections, and the growing concern surrounding them, scientists are working to discover alternatives to antimicrobial drugs, and honey may be an ideal target to achieve this.

Scientists are studying the natural healing properties of honey because it contains antimicrobial compounds. It has been used for centuries as a natural remedy to combat many types of diseases and treat wounds.

The challenge is to find and isolate these compounds so that they can lead to new treatments to deal with health problems.

Speaking to the BBC, Professor Les Bailey of Cardiff University's School of Pharmacy said the university's research into honey is an attempt to go back to traditional remedies "to see if we can learn from our ancestors".

Scientists in Cardiff are looking to see if honey has a role to play.

According to Cardiff University: "Honey's healing properties result from a combination of factors, including its high sugar content, low pH, hydrogen peroxide, and bee-derived peptides. Honey also contains antimicrobial phytochemicals which represent a rich source of evidence for developing Medicines for the treatment of microbial infections.

Scientists at Cardiff University are trying to find and isolate antimicrobial compounds by using honey as a 'drug discovery tool', by seeing if bees are grazing on a plant that contains antibiotics. Once they discover the plant, they can then look at its compounds.

Dr Jennifer Hawkins said: 'Our plan was to hire bees as private investigators and send them out to interview every flowering plant in the country. During each visit, these investigators would collect forensic material in the form of nectar containing phytochemicals, some of which may be antibacterial, and pills. pollen that bears the DNA fingerprint of the plant.”

Currently, scientists are closely studying dandelion, as it contains compounds that "kill bacteria and viruses", according to Professor Bailey.

He added, "We need to do something innovative, otherwise we are facing a scenario back to the pre-antibiotic stage."

World's first death from H3N8 bird flu in China

The world's first fatal case of human infection with H3N8 avian influenza virus appeared in Guangdong recently. Since the case was not exposed until more than ten days after the patient's death, the outside world thinks that the Beijing authorities may delay the notification. Some epidemiologists urged China to review the epidemic notification mechanism so as not to endanger global public health.

A 56-year-old woman who died of infection with H3N8 bird flu lived in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. She became ill on February 22 and was hospitalized due to severe pneumonia. She died on the 16th of last month.

The authorities said that the patient had contact with live poultry before the onset of the disease, and there were also wild birds infested near his residence. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that he was infected with the H3N8 avian influenza virus.

The World Health Organization stated that environmental samples collected from the vegetable market the patient visited were found to be positive for H3 Influenza A, which may be the source of the virus. The World Health Organization said that so far, three people have been infected with the H3N8 bird flu virus, all from China.

China's National Health and Medical Commission submitted a report to the WHO on the 27th of last month, more than 10 days after the patient's death, which was criticized by some public opinion, and some even believed that Beijing intentionally delayed the notification.

Ren Ruihong, former director of the Medical Assistance Department of the Red Cross Foundation of China, did not rule out the possibility that the higher authorities did not notify the WHO immediately after receiving the notification from Guangdong.

Ren Ruihong: "Guangdong CDC may not have a strong awareness of prevention and delays with them, but it is also possible that they reported it in a timely manner, but because if there is a cross-species infection of H3N8 avian influenza virus, it will actually be very harmful to humans. , is a very major health event, which caused us to obtain information relatively slowly."

The Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced on the 26th of last month that a 56-year-old woman in Zhongshan City was infected with the H3N8 virus, but did not explain that the patient had passed away. Ren Ruihong believes that this may not involve concealment.

Ren Ruihong: "Because you completely conceal this infectious disease from the whole world, I guess they are unlikely to be able to do it. In fact, they themselves can't bear it, because the first spread may still be within China. He can delay the notification time, causing a delay in the public's access to information. He will make his own calculations about the timing of the notification. It is possible."

WHO: The risk of human-to-human transmission of H3N8 is low

The WHO emphasized that the risk of human-to-human transmission of H3N8 is low. He Meixiang, an epidemiologist in Taiwan, believes that this is a blessing in misfortune for China.

He Meixiang: "Assuming this is a state of (possible) human-to-human transmission, it cannot be delayed. After such a long delay, there will be a lot of people (possibly infected). We all try our best to avoid unknown or severe respiratory infections. It’s all about speeding up (reporting as soon as possible), so that more timely discussions and reports can be established.”

He Meixiang urged the Chinese authorities to review the current outbreak reporting mechanism and infectious disease regulations.

He Meixiang: "As long as there is a cross-host infection in humans, we should not take it lightly. China has regulations, and the epidemic situation must be reported to the higher authorities before it can be announced. This in itself will delay a lot, especially in their totalitarian state Then, everyone will become very nervous and afraid to speak.”

He Meixiang urged the Chinese authorities to face up to the loopholes, so as to avoid a repeat of the situation where the new crown epidemic endangered the world.