Climate Change and High Temperatures Cause an Overwhelming Increase in Diseases
Recent research has scientists testifying that climate change will have devastating effects on human health. With overall increases on temperatures globally, a heightened magnitude of infectious disease transmission is anticipated. Although it is understood that the effects of climate change on infectious disease transmission are indirect, its impact is certainly significant. Still, that is not to say that the direct consequences on human health are impertinent because, indeed, they factor into the intensified risks of parasitic and communicable diseases such as cholera and the West Nile Virus. However, regardless of whether the effects of climate change are direct or indirect, studies illustrate one common ground. The consequences of a hotter climate on human health are catastrophic. The bottom line is that rising temperatures provide a suitable environment for diseases to flourish and create inconvenient conditions for humans to sustain life.
An additional 3˚ Celsius will change the world. Increased temperatures allow vector-borne diseases to exist in seasons that are unusual to its carrier’s life cycle. Therefore, these vector-borne insects are sensitive to climatic variations. Take, for instance, the anopheles species of the mosquito which carries malaria. It only needs a mere 16˚ C or 60.80˚F in order to complete its life cycle and be active (Emily K. Shuman). As a result, with temperatures predicted to increase 3˚ C worldwide, mosquitoes as such and other disease bearing arthropods will be more prone to transmission in different geographical and seasonal settings as climate changes. “One example is the spread of malaria into the highland regions of East Africa, where this disease did not previously exist (Emily K. Shuman).” In effect, the ramifications are substantial. As temperatures rise, diseases once unknown to an area will consequently be widespread.
Assuming that worldwide temperatures increase as predicted by 2˚ to 3˚ C, Emily Shuman, M.D. indicates that the people at risk for malaria will amplify by 3 to 5%. In effect, she proposes that many millions more will suffer from malaria every year. As a result, the human race will suffer dramatic health consequences worldwide due to climate change.
However, it is imperative to note that malaria has mainly been contained in developed countries such as the United States and currently places a huge burden on less economically developed regions such as the sub-Saharan continent (Ford, et. al). This is indicative of the foreseeable stresses that developing countries will face as temperatures increase. Due to their “socioeconomic vulnerability,” they lack developed public health infrastructure (McMichael). Still, with developed nations’ resources and wealth, an outbreak of malaria is apt to be easily contained unless living standards greatly deteriorate (Gubler, et. al). Regardless, the need for preventive measures is essential to human survival in spite of economic background.
Due to rising temperatures, other mosquito-borne diseases will also become rampant. Aside from malaria, the West Nile Virus poses a significant threat to the human race. “An infection can cause neuro-invasive diseases, like encephalitis, and human fatalities (Wang, et. al).” In 1999, the West Nile Virus breached the United States causing the largest mosquito-borne encephalitis epidemic known to the region. Approximately 23,500 were confirmed with the illness while fatalities of approximately 900 were reported till 2006 (Nielsen, et al.). According to Wang et. al, climate can influence the abundance of the West Nile Virus hosts and vectors, and subsequently, affect transmission rates. Their research, a study based in the United States, concludes that as drier, hotter periods exist due to climate change, the risk of human West Nile Virus outbreaks will also increase. Again, it is apparent that vector-borne diseases will face dramatic effects as global temperature grows and, unfortunately, will manifest serious health risks for the human population. Therefore, the virus is a serious threat as temperatures worldwide increase and precautionary actions must be executed or we risk the downfall of human kind.
Nevertheless, vector-borne diseases are not the only effects of climate change and, therefore, are not of sole concern. In addition, an increase in water-borne diseases will result. Unfortunately, climate change calls for rises in sea levels and will most commonly bring about frequent flooding as well. Floods provide for unsanitary conditions by “overflowing wastewater treatment plants, causing failure of septic systems, contaminating nearby surface waters or wells and … lead to the development of pathogens in storm water runoff (Lipp, et. al).” Present satellite technology indicates that the “average annual numbers of persons affected … will increase from < 50 million at present sea levels to ≈ 250 million by the 2080s (Ford, et. al).” For this reason, it is vital to note that unsanitary water conditions will be much more prevalent, especially in the developing world, and will cause a deadly aftermath.
Due to such water contamination, floods are associated with illnesses like cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, hepatitis, and leptospirosis (Ford, et. al). A study where cholera is a climate related infectious disease proves that, in addition to V. cholera presence in areas of poor sanitation, the V. cholera bacteria is naturally present in warm environments (Lipp, et. al). Outbreaks from cholera due to flooding have already been demonstrated in Africa and in West Bengal, India (Ford, et. al). Therefore, the health implications of climate change on cholera are severe and will affect millions of people each year.
Water plays an integral role to human survival. With undeveloped regions seeking water in untreated environmental sources for everyday household usage, outbreaks of cholera will vehemently infect communities. Once again, a lack of means to water treatment and public health infrastructure will drive developing nations into a greater struggle.
Moreover, to exemplify the dangerous implications of climate change on water-borne diseases, we must also note its burden on the common diarrheal disease. More and more people will endure the illness if temperatures do not remain stagnant at its current state. Statistics predict that “by 2030 there will be 10% more diarrheal disease than there would have been with no climate change… (Emily K. Shuman)” The effects of climate change on diarrheal disease were demonstrated in 1993. Due to flooding caused by heavy spring rains in Milwaukee, a usual seasonal setting for bacterial and protozoal diarrheal illnesses, an epidemic occurred (Emily K. Shuman). In effect, this event provides evidence to the ramifications of climate change on pathogenic diseases. However, sufferings from diarrheal disease will be further deepened due to diarrheal repercussions on “malnutrition, development, and cognition (Emily K. Shuman).” Essentially, the effects are real. People will suffer major health consequences as overall climates continue to rise and will create nearly unviable conditions for humans to live.
In essence, preventive measures are imperative for human survival. With temperatures constantly rising, we risk the health of our people. Creating a hot environment for diseases to flourish is deadly. If we provide no means to end this issue, diseases may get out of hand and, unfortunately for all, life will never be the same. The people of the developing world may suffer the most because of their lack of health infrastructure, but everyone will endure the consequences. Diseases must be contained, but if temperatures do not remain stable at its present level, life, for many, will languish as a result of human’s own lack of precautionary action.
Works Cited
Emily K. Shuman, M. (2010). Global Climate Change and Infectious Diseases. The New England Journal of Medicine , 1061-1063.
Ford, T., Colwell, R., Rose, J., Morse, S., Rogers, D., & Yates, T. (2009). Using Satellite Images of Environmental Changes to Predict Infectious Disease Outbreaks. Emerging Infectious Diseases , 1341-1346.
Gubler, D., Reiter, P., Ebi, K., Yap, W., Nasci, R., & Patz, J. (2001). Climate Variability and Change in the United States: Potential Impacts on Vector- and Rodent-Borne Diseases. Environmental Health Perspectives , 223-233.
Lipp, E., Huq, A., & Colwell, R. (2002). Effects of Global Climate on Infectious Disease: the Cholera Model. Clinical Microbiology Reviews , 757-770.
McMichael, A. (2001). Health consequences of global climate change. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine , 111-114.
Nielsen, C., Armijos, V., Wheeler, S., Carpenter, T., Boyce, W., Kelley, K., et al. (2008). Risk Factors Associated with Human Infection during the 2006 West Nile Virus Outbreak in Davis, a Residential Community in Northern California. AM J Trop Med Hyg , 53-62.
Wang, G., Minnis, R., Belant, J., & Wax, C. (2010). BioMed Central. Retrieved April 31, 2010, from BMC Infectious Diseases: www.biomedcentral.com...