Daijiworld Media Network - London

London, Dec 16: Health experts are hailing a major medical breakthrough after the US Food and Drug Administration approved two new antibiotics — zoliflodacin and gepotidacin — to treat drug resistant gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection that affects more than 82 million people worldwide each year.

Gonorrhoea has become increasingly difficult to treat as common antibiotics lose effectiveness. The newly approved drugs, developed through global collaborations, represent the first new treatments for the infection in decades and have shown high cure rates in clinical trials without significant safety issues. Zoliflodacin, taken as a single oral dose, is expected to improve access in low and middle income countries most burdened by resistant strains.

In related developments, the UK health regulator has authorised a new long acting asthma medication, Exdensur, for patients aged 12 and above who struggle with uncontrolled asthma, offering twice yearly relief and potentially reducing flare ups and hospital visits

Meanwhile, amid a sharp rise in seasonal flu and COVID 19 cases, Irish health authorities report nearly 3,500 infections this week, urging vaccination and hygiene measures to protect children and vulnerable groups, even as schools continue to operate normally under updated public health guidance.