Global Weather & Climate Center
  • Home
  • About
    • GWCC Is
    • Where in the World is GWCC?
    • Contact Us
  • Global Regions
    • Africa
    • Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea
    • Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean
    • Central and South America
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Indian Ocean and Asia
    • Polar Regions
    • South Pacific Ocean and Australia
    • Western Pacific Ocean
  • Weather
    • Applied Meteorology >
      • Air Quality
      • Aviation
      • Droughts
      • Fire Weather
      • Flooding
      • Geosciences
      • Global Environmental Topics
      • Weather Observations
    • Weather Education
    • Weather History
    • Weather Research
    • Weather Safety and Preparedness
    • Severe Weather
    • Social Sciences
    • Space Weather
    • Tropical Cyclones
    • Weather and Health
    • Winter Weather
  • Climate
  • GWCC Global Imagery Archive
  • GWCC Window to the World
    • GOES-16 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • GOES-16 ABI Channel Description and Examples
    • GOES-16 ABI Satellite Products
    • GOES-17 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • Himawari-8 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • Meteosat-11 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
  • Kids Corner
    • Kindergarten to 5th Grade
    • 6th to 12th grade
    • Fun Facts & Weather Trivia
    • GWCC Weather Radar Education
    • GWCC Wheel of Science

Climate Topics

Increase in Infectious Diseases due to Climate Change (credit: WHO, PSR)

3/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
DISCUSSION: Many infectious diseases thrive in warm temperatures. It is predicted that overall global temperatures will continue to increase. As climate change progresses, the risk of getting an infectious disease may increase.

Infectious diseases can be found in insects commonly known as vectors. Some diseases can be spread from Aedes, Culex, and Anopheles mosquitoes, all of which live in tropical areas. Zika virus, malaria, dengue, and West Nile virus are just some among the list of mosquito-borne diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) recorded over 438,000 worldwide deaths in 2015 from malaria alone. As climate warms, the geographic range where these mosquitoes can survive will increase, resulting in more widespread disease.

Over time, humans may become more prone to disease because of climate change. Research by Thomas A. Burke, Ph.D., states that climate change could cause stress on agriculture causing malnutrition in humans. There are also potential changes in the human immune system due to an increased flux of ultraviolet radiation caused by climate change. Not only could climate change increase the spread of diseases, but it could make humans more susceptible to them, too.

Warming temperatures that are habitable for mosquitoes are predicted for the southern U.S. According to the New York Times, Florida is expecting deadly heat waves that flare up in the summer and rising sea levels that will eat up the shore. The heating of Florida will make it a perfect environment for mosquitoes to thrive in. This could potentially create an enormous outbreak of disease in the United States.

An increase in temperature and humidity causes mosquitoes to bite more, boosts reproduction rates, and lengthens their breeding season, says Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR). PSR also states that recent studies suggest that when temperatures rise, mosquitoes that carry disease migrate to higher elevations, creating a higher risk for people.

Luckily, there are ways to prevent contraction of a mosquito-borne disease. People should equip their homes with protective barriers such as screens on windows and doors. It is a good idea to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover skin. Also, always wear bug spray when outside in hot and humid weather! The most long-term solution to this problem would be for humans to reduce all activities that contribute to global warming. Maybe then, mosquito-borne spread of disease will decrease.

(Credit: WHO, PSR, Thomas A. Burke, New York Times)

To learn more about other interesting stories related to global climate issues, be sure to click here!
​

©2018 Weather Forecaster Brittany Connelly
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016


    RSS Feed

© 2020, Global Weather and Climate Center
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
​Webmaster - Stephen Piechowski
  • Home
  • About
    • GWCC Is
    • Where in the World is GWCC?
    • Contact Us
  • Global Regions
    • Africa
    • Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea
    • Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean
    • Central and South America
    • Europe
    • North America
    • Indian Ocean and Asia
    • Polar Regions
    • South Pacific Ocean and Australia
    • Western Pacific Ocean
  • Weather
    • Applied Meteorology >
      • Air Quality
      • Aviation
      • Droughts
      • Fire Weather
      • Flooding
      • Geosciences
      • Global Environmental Topics
      • Weather Observations
    • Weather Education
    • Weather History
    • Weather Research
    • Weather Safety and Preparedness
    • Severe Weather
    • Social Sciences
    • Space Weather
    • Tropical Cyclones
    • Weather and Health
    • Winter Weather
  • Climate
  • GWCC Global Imagery Archive
  • GWCC Window to the World
    • GOES-16 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • GOES-16 ABI Channel Description and Examples
    • GOES-16 ABI Satellite Products
    • GOES-17 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • Himawari-8 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
    • Meteosat-11 Live Satellite Imagery Portal
  • Kids Corner
    • Kindergarten to 5th Grade
    • 6th to 12th grade
    • Fun Facts & Weather Trivia
    • GWCC Weather Radar Education
    • GWCC Wheel of Science