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So-called superbugs are on the rise, and as we've been told repeatedly, the overuse of antibiotics is largely to blame.

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But now the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sounding a new warning about the antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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Carl Azuz has more.

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It's a knee-jerk reaction for a lot of folks; you get sick, you go to the doctor and ask for an antibiotic.

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But you don't always need one.

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Doctors say it won't kill off a virus like the common cold, and overuse of antibiotics is blamed for the rise of what some call superbugs --

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bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, infections that are harder for medicines to kill.

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The CDC says these things have gotten so bad, they're now officially considered a threat to human health.

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Two million people in America get superbug infections every year.

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At least 23,000 people die because current drugs can't cure them.

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So, what can we do about it?

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First and foremost, the CDC says to use antibiotics correctly.

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As much as half the antibiotic used in the U.S. isn't necessary or called for.

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These can be good, effective medicines.

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They can kill harmful bacteria. They can also kill helpful bacteria.

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And germs that are resistant to antibiotics may be left over to grow, according to the Missouri Department of Health.

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So, make sure you work with your doctor to avoid overusing antibiotics, and closely follow directions on how, when and how long to take them.

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Don't save some for the next time you're sick when your doctor tells you to use it all.

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Washing your hands is a good thing, too.

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One key to reducing infections is not to get them in the first place.