In the face of growing antimicrobial resistance, Dr Chris Cooper tells Kathryn that there's no room for complacency when it comes to potentially deadly diseases like Tuberculosis.
Dr Cooper is the Director of Chemistry at the TB Alliance based in New York. By 2050 it is estimated that drug resistant TB will kill 75 million people and cost the global economy a cumulative $16.7 trillion - if new cures are not developed. Although the rate of TB in New Zealand is low overall, with it affecting around 300 people a year, Māori are over-represented in the statistics and the Western Pacific is a high risk zone for infection.
Dr Cooper has spoken with TB scientists from the Maurice Wilkins Centre about the latest breakthroughs in the global fight against TB.
He talks to Kathryn Ryan
Photo: 123RF
