WHO to assist India in superbug research

"The WHO will be assisting Indian government in the research on whether the superbug is a health threat or not," WHO Country Representative and Spokesperson Nata Menabde told reporters here.

"Nobody is contesting whether what (British journal) Lancet has written, but we have to confront science through science. Whether or not it's a public heath threat needs to be established through research," she said.

The journal had last week said that NDM-1, a bacteria with multi-drug resistant gene, was found in sewage and drinking water samples in a study done in the city.

India has steadfastly maintained that the capital's drinking water is safe, and questioned the credibility of the study.