Antibiotics 'will soon be useless in MRSA fight'

Effective antibiotics could soon be rendered useless in the battle against MRSA, it was revealed today.

Research by one of the world's most influential scientists suggests the age of infectious disease control is almost over. Professor George Poste, an adviser to President Bush, claims that by 2010 scientists will have to begin the search for new drugs.

He claims a "window of vulnerability" will be open for the next five years when the toll of the superbug will reach its peak as a result of antibiotic resistance.

"Frankly, most governments are asleep at the switch," said Professor Poste, director of the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. "We are facing a relentless increase in antibiotic resistance."

Figures released last week revealed deaths caused by MRSA in British hospitals have doubled since 2001 to almost 1,000 a year. Some strains are now resistant to all common antibiotics.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation claims the world is poorly prepared for a possible bird flu pandemic with only a dozen countries purchasing significant quantities of anti-viral drugs, and just 50 with contingency plans in place to cope.