Study shows that more than half of diseases will be exacerbated by climate change

Scientists warn of 4 aspects of climate change and disease risk / (EFE / Carlos Ramírez)

consequences climate change They will no longer be confined to extreme events. But, in addition, there will be a file exacerbation in more than half Diseases causing human diseases So far known, such as dengue fever, hepatitis, pneumonia or malaria, to name a few. In this sense, North American scholars warned 4 points Will enhance this situation and implement a interactive map that links every climate risk to pathology.

In a work published in The nature of climate changea team of researchers from University of Hawaii at ManoaAnd the United Stateconfirmed it “Warming, precipitation, floods, droughts, storms, land cover changes, ocean climate change, fires, heat waves and changes in sea level” will affect “diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, animals, fungi, protozoa, plants, and chromists.”

To analyze the situation, the experts conducted a systematic search for studies and empirical examples before them resident “The effects of 10 climate-sensitive risks to greenhouse gas emissions on each known human disease”the analyzed risks were: global warming, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, extreme rains, floods, storms, sea level rise, biogeochemical changes in the oceans, and changes in land cover.

Scientists have confirmed that these diseases will be affected by one or more climatic hazards / (EFE / Mahatma Fong / File)
Scientists have confirmed that these diseases will be affected by one or more climatic hazards / (EFE / Mahatma Fong / File)

As explained in a statement issued by the House of Graduate Studies, the analysis was performed “by combining two approved lists of all known pathogenic infections and diseases that have affected mankind in recorded history”, for which ” Researchers reviewed more than 70,000 scientific articles.

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In this sense, the scientists emphasized that the pathogens assessed are “transmitted mainly by vectors, although there are examples of transmission routes by water, air, direct contact and food.” They also pointed out that “more than 58%or 218 of 375, of Diseases causing human diseases Their acquaintances had seen each other Affected at some time by at least one climate hazard“.

Scientists have evaluated
Scientists have assessed “the effects of 10 climate-sensitive risks to greenhouse gas emissions” / (PUBLIC DOMIAN)

Camilo Mora, professor of geography in the College of Social Sciences (CSS) and lead of the study explained: “Given the widespread and widespread consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic,It was really scary mega discovery asthenia subordinate health resulting from greenhouse gas emissions. While emphasizing thatThere are so many diseases and modes of transmission that we don’t think we can really adapt to climate changeWhich is why he highlighted the “urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.”

To show the situation in each disease, scientists developed a interactive map where it is clear The relationship between climate risk and disease. The tool allows users to query specific hazards, paths and disease groups and view available evidenceThe experts explained. In addition, they highlighted 4 points that will be affected by climate change.

To determine which aspects of climate change will affect health, scientists have divided them into 4 points:

Scientists warned that
Scientists have warned that “more than 58% of known human disease-causing diseases have been affected by at least one climate hazard” (Getty Images)

1. Climate risks bring pathogens closer to people: Much area with increased duration of climatic hazards, thus promoting and facilitating the “expansion of vectors and pathogens”. An example is that “higher temperatures and precipitation have been associated with an expansion of the area of ​​vectors, such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, birds and various mammals implicated in disease outbreaks”.

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2. Climate risks bring people closer to pathogens: because of Extreme events, people will be forced to move and migrate to other places, which will approach other pathogens. “Storms, floods and rising sea levels will cause displacement. This will lead to leptospirosis, giardiasis, gastroenteritis, cholera, salmonellosis, and pneumonia.”

3. Complete pathogensClimate Hazards promoting specific aspects of pathogens, Such as increasing “climate suitability for reproduction, accelerating the life cycle, increasing the seasons and duration of potential exposure, improving pathogen-vector interactions, and increasing virulence”.

63 out of 286 diseases experienced a reduction in severity / (Annelies)
63 out of 286 diseases experienced a reduction in severity / (Annelies)

4. Low human capacity against pathogens: Climate change will cause changes in the state of the body of people, In addition, the following will be added: “Stress caused by exposure to hazardous conditions; living in unsafe conditions, damage to infrastructure, forced exposure to pathogens, and/or reduced medical care.”

It is worth noting that scientists have also found that The severity of some diseases decreased, 63 out of 286 to be exact. “Global warming, for example, has reduced the spread of viral diseases associated with conditions unsuitable for the virus or due to a stronger immune system in warmer conditions,” the scientists explained.

For her part, Kira Webster, Ph.D. In Geography from CSS and co-author of the paper, he noted: “We have learned that climate change can affect human disease-causing diseases. However, as our database has grown, we have been both stunned and saddened by the huge number of case studies available that already show the extent We are exposed to increasing greenhouse gas emissions.”

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Aileen Morales

"Beer nerd. Food fanatic. Alcohol scholar. Tv practitioner. Writer. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot."

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