SYDNEY (AFP)— A drug-resistant “superbug” has infected three Australians who travelled to India, an expert said on Friday, reinforcing fears it could spread worldwide after hitting dozens of people from Britain.

Professor Peter Collignon, Canberra Hospital's head of infectious diseases department, said the cases -- including one patient who had plastic surgery in Mumbai -- were just the “tip of the iceberg”.
British scientists sparked an angry response from India when they said “medical tourists” to the sub-continent were among 37 people who were found to be carrying bacteria with the New Delhi metallo-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) gene.
The gene was identified last year in bacteria carried by a Swedish patient admitted to hospital in India.
The gene, which is found in a number of different bacteria, produces an enzyme that renders even very strong, last resort antibiotics ineffective in combating the bacteria.