Australian researchers are warning a “deadly superbug” hotspot is emerging on the nation’s doorstep as infections in animals become resistant to treatment. RMIT scientists have investigated the problem across South East Asia, sparking concerns the world could run out of effective antibiotics.

This could create a “pandemic-like situation” unlike any the world has seen before, author and biologist Professor Rajaraman Eri warned.

The problem is caused by farmers feeding healthy animals low doses of antibiotics to promote rapid growth. By thinning the lining of the gut and killing bacteria from inside the animal, more nutrients are absorbed. But the regular dosing results in surviving bacteria becoming resistant to the medicine.

Related: Aussies warned over common household mistake spreading deadly disease amid outbreak

It’s not eating the meat from the animals that’s the greatest danger, but rather the resistant bacteria entering soil and water through animal waste. Direct contact with the animals is also a means of transmission.

When animals are in close proximity to each other in industrial settings, diseases are also about to mutate quickly through a flock, as has been seen recently with the H1N5 virus that’s swept across the world.

Drug resistance could kill 10 million a year

While the misuse of antibiotics is occurring overseas, it has the potential to impact the entire world. Global travel rates continue to rise following the Covid-19 pandemic, allowing diseases to rapidly spread.

“There is a big pandemic waiting to happen in the form of antimicrobial resistance,” Eri warned.

Eri collaborated with Thailand-based public policy expert Dr Pushpanathan Sundram on the report which was published in the International Journal of Food Science and Technology.

They concluded Australia regulates the use of antibiotics in animal feed, but that’s not the case in many developing nations. And the World Health Organization has warned by 2050 drug-resistant diseases could trigger up to 10 million deaths every year.

“Efforts in the region to regulate anti-microbial use are underway, but there’s growing concern over consuming products with anti-microbial residues, which can impact human health due to the presence of antibiotic-resistant microbiota and pathogens in hosts,” Sundram said.

Love Australia’s weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the week’s best stories.