The Impact of Global Warming on Tropical Diseases and Environmental Health

Global warming poses a significant threat to public health, particularly in tropical regions where diseases like malaria, dengue fever, jaundice, and encephalitis thrive. Mosquitoes, the primary vectors for these diseases, flourish in warmer climates, leading to an increase in their population and the spread of infectious illnesses. As temperatures rise due to global warming, previously unsuitable regions become hospitable for mosquitoes, exposing more people to these diseases.

Moreover, the escalation of global temperatures exacerbates respiratory ailments and allergies. The combination of increased heat, air pollutants, spores, and dust leads to a rise in respiratory issues, further burdening healthcare systems worldwide.

Currently, approximately 45% of the global population resides in high-risk areas for tropical diseases. However, with the ongoing rise in temperatures and greenhouse gas emissions, this figure is projected to escalate to 60%, underscoring the urgent need for mitigation measures.

Studies conducted in Malaysia illustrate the alarming trajectory of global warming's impact. By 2060, temperatures are estimated to increase between 0.6°C and 4.5°C, while greenhouse gas concentrations are predicted to double. Failure to address these trends promptly could result in a devastating 1,200 square kilometer expansion of Malaysia's coastline underwater, imperiling coastal communities and ecosystems.

Furthermore, the rising sea levels associated with global warming pose a grave threat to coastal habitats such as mangrove swamps and diverse flora and fauna. Giant waves generated by elevated sea levels have the potential to obliterate these critical ecosystems, exacerbating the loss of biodiversity.

In addition to direct health impacts, global warming alters precipitation patterns, leading to droughts and water scarcity. A 10% decrease in rainfall, coupled with a temperature increase, could diminish water availability by 13% to 53% during drought periods, exacerbating existing socio-economic disparities and jeopardizing public health.

In conclusion, global warming poses multifaceted threats to human health, exacerbating the prevalence of tropical diseases, respiratory ailments, and environmental degradation. Urgent and concerted efforts are required at the global, national, and local levels to mitigate these impacts and safeguard public health and the environment for future generations.
The Impact of Global Warming on Tropical Diseases and Environmental Health

New Species Of Infectious Disease Found In Amazon

New Species Of Infectious Disease Found In Amazon
While investigating the tropical disease leptospirosis in the Peruvian Amazon, an infectious disease specialist from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine has uncovered new, emerging bacteria that may be responsible for up to 40 percent of cases of the disease. Patients with severe forms of leptospirosis have jaundice, renal failure and lung hemorrhage, with high fatality rates.

Joseph Vinetz, M.D., professor of medicine in UC San Diego's Division of Infectious Diseases working in collaboration with colleagues from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, and others headed the study that led to discovery of the new species in the family of pathogens, Leptospira, which is spread from animals to humans. The findings will be published in the April 1 issue of the Public Library of Science (PLoS) journal Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Leptospirosis is a severe, water-borne disease transmitted from animals to humans, with tens of millions of human cases worldwide each year. Fatality rates can range as high as 20 to 25 percent in some regions, and it is particularly prevalent in tropical countries where poor people live under highly crowded condition, or in rural areas where people are exposed to water contaminated by the urine of Leptospira-infected animals such as rats.

The new species reflects Amazonian biodiversity, according to Vinetz, and the pathogen has apparently evolved to become an important cause of leptospirosis in the Peruvian Amazon region of Iquitos. There, Vinetz leads an international team of physicians from the U.S. and Peru in an NIH-funded training program studying malaria, leptospirosis and other infectious diseases that impact disadvantaged populations in developing countries.

The researchers found that the new species, Leptospira licerasiae cultured from a very small number of patients, as well as eight rats is significantly different from other forms of the bacteria at a genomic level and has novel biological features.

"This strain has fundamentally different characteristics," said Vinetz, adding that the next step is to sequence its genome. "We think that hundreds of patients are infected with this pathogen, which is so unique that antibodies for the disease don't react to the regular tests for leptospirosis."

In testing 881 patients in a prospective clinical study of fever, the researchers found that 41 percent of them had antibodies that reacted only to this new strain of the bacteria, showing a much higher incidence of leptospirosis than previously suspected.

"This observation is relevant to other regions of the world where leptospirosis is likely to be common, because it's necessary to identify the right strain of the Lepstospira in order to make the correct diagnosis," Vinetz said.

Since isolation of the new Leptospira in people was rare despite the high prevalence of antibodies to this strain of the bacteria in the Amazonian population, Vinetz theorizes that the individuals with positive cultures may have a previously undiscovered immune system defect, making them more susceptible to the disease.
Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
New Species Of Infectious Disease Found In Amazon

Global warming and tropical diseases

Global warming and tropical diseases
Tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, jaundice and encephalitis will most likely be on the rise due to global warming, as mosquitoes thrive on such climatic conditions.

Global warming would increase the temperature of areas where mosquitoes could not live previously and infect more people with diseases.

Studies on global warming had revealed this. The respiratory ailments and allergies due to increased heat, air pollutants, spore and dust could also be expected to rise.

Currently, about 45% of the global population live in high-risk areas, and with the increasing temperature and release of greenhouse gases, the figure may increase to 60%.

The studies also showed that the temperature in Malaysia would rise between 0.6°C and 4.5°C while the density of the greenhouse gases would double by the year 2060.

A 1,200sq km area of Malaysia’s coastline would be under water if early measures were not taken to address the effects of global warming.

The increase in sea level will create giant waves that can destroy mangrove swamps as well as flora and fauna.

The increase in temperature and drop in rainfall by 10% will reduce water availability by between 13% and 53% during a drought.
Global warming and tropical diseases