Actually, the rate of population increase peaked in the 1960s. The growth once seen as exponential is beginning to look like an s-curve, if you pay attention to the derivative.

I dont think you understand the word exponential.

I think I do but I made the common mistake of mismatching exponential with accelerated growth.

My interrogation hold : aren’t bacteria infections quantity (and therefore duplication and mutation) influenced by the growing number of host?