Climate change and spread of animal diseases to humans

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Climate change and spread of animal diseases to humans

Spread of animal disease to humans blamed on climate change

Impact of climate change on public health will be huge

Date updated: Wed, Jan 06, 2010
Provided by : Bolohealth http://www.bolohealth.com/news/2387-spread-of-animal-disease-to-humans-blamed-on-climate-change

Mumbai, January 06: The year 2009 hit the headlines for many reasons, but ultimately emerged as the H1N1 year. Spread of the mutating H1N1 virus that causes swine flu affected thousands of people worldwide and the number of confirmed cases still continues. This transmission of animal virus to humans is majorly due to the global warming and effects of climate change. Diminishing glaciers, droughts and a list of infections spread from animal virus.

Climate changes have a direct effect on the animals who live and deeply influenced by the nature and the changing ecosystem. Small disturbances in the environment can disrupt their living pattern and can result in gradual extinction. Climate change, as we know, can have adverse effects on public health and result in deaths worldwide.

Diseases like bird flu due to climate change can disrupt migration and movement of wild birds, thus enabling them to come in contact with the domestic birds more and thereby, spread the H5N1 virus that cause bird flu. This virus can be transmitted to the humans.

Cholera, a water-borne disease is spread more by the rising temperatures, since it has an impact on the growth of bacteria that leads to cholera.

Vector-borne disease like malaria n dengue is mainly spread by vector mosquito species. Malaria, most found in tropical and sub tropical countries, where weather conditions facilitate the breeding of mosquitoes, thereby increasing the rate of transmission of the disease. Dengue is found more in the urban settings, caused mainly due to surface water pooling.

While these diseases continue to affect people, swine flu which started in mid-July of 2009 had a bigger impact on people worldwide and also in India. Swine flu death in India has crossed 1000 mark while the confirmed cases continue to rise each day. This pandemic flu had a big impact on public health, with the vaccines to prevent still awaited. The H1N1 virus can be transferred easily from human-to-human. Proper hygiene and preventive measures can only reduce the rates of transmission of the virus.

There have already been many outbreaks of pandemic flu and other deadly disease due to ecological imbalance, and increased pollution levels may raise the incidence of chronic diseases including cancer, different allergies and also birth defects in children.

Impact of climate change on public health will be huge

 

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Re: Climate change and spread of animal diseases to humans

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Impact of climate change on public health will be huge

By Debjani Baidyaray | Provided by : Bolohealth | http://www.bolohealth.com/news/2205-impact-of-climate-change-on-public-health-will-be-huge

MUMBAI, December 17, 2009: Thousands of people across the globe from environmental ministers and specialists to officials from 192 countries have been attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference at the Bella Center in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7, 2009. This conference was organized for nations across the globe to arrive at a consensus on carbon emissions, the mission being to save the world from the adverse effects of overheating or popularly termed as global warming.

With less then 48 hours to go for the end of the summit, the deadlock on climate change among the rich and poor countries is not over what with intense bickering among these nations regarding actions on climate-change mitigation and adaptation. As the stalemate continues, there is no getting away from the fact that adverse effects of climate change on public health are already being felt in a huge way, and if not corrected, will entail prolonged health risks.

Weather and climate changes have strong influences on health, as they affect food and water supplies, result in emergence of infectious diseases such as dengue and malaria and also natural disasters like floods. The worst affected populace of global warming is likely to be the inhabitants of developing countries, particularly in densely populated coastal areas, forests, small Insland states, and high mountain zones.

Vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue are of primary concern. Both temperature and surface water have strong influences on the spread of the vector mosquito species, which require stagnant water to breed. Malaria, mostly affects people in tropical and sub tropical countries, where weather conditions facilitate the breeding of mosquitoes, thereby increasing the rate of transmission of the disease. Dengue, affecting people based in urban settings, is caused due to surface water pooling, among other factors.

Diarrhea, also known to be sensitive to climate change, is at its peak during the rainy reason, especially in the tropical zones. Floods and droughts are touted as the major factors that increase the risk of the disease. Other conditions that are caused due to contaminated water are cholera, E coli infection, typhoid and hepatitis A.

Extreme weather and climate changes can exacerbate complications and pose death risks for those who have preexisting conditions like cardiovascular disease and respiratory problems. The very young and old and those with low immunity are susceptible.