Global Warming
Changes in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may result in warmer air and ocean temperatures. If these changes occur, they could have significant effects on death rates from increases in heat-related deaths and an increased incidence of infectious diseases. Global warming may have grave consequences for the future control of disease. In the coming decades, and in combination with other environmental and social pressures, the current world-wide warming trend is likely to increase the exposure of millions of people to new diseases and health risks. All the indications are that this disturbing change has already begun. Infectious diseases are currently emerging, resurging and undergoing redistribution on a global scale. In fact, according to a 1996 World Health Organization (WHO) report, at least 30 new infectious diseases have emerged in the past 20 years. (1) The three diseases that I will be focusing on are malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever. Malaria, yellow fever, and dengue fever are just a few of the health conditions that may become more frequent in the coming century. For several years, scientists have warned that the higher temperatures and extreme weather events associated with global warming are likely
Such information could be used to predict more accurately which of the diseases to target as threats, and which will be less likely to spread and/or become more severe. Though heat can kill directly, global warming is expected to claim even more of its victims through an indirect influence on disease, particularly on vector borne microbes. "At present, 45 percent of the world has conditions that permit malaria transmission. Until the start of this century, yellow fever outbreaks also occurred in Europe, the Caribbean islands and Central and North America. The mosquito can also pass the virus through infecting their eggs, or their offspring (vertical transmission). However, warmer temperatures also lead to a shorter life span of the mosquito, and a shorter life span means less time to transmit the virus to another person. At latitudes farther north than Memphis Tennessee, for example, this mosquito is present only during the summer (2). A single dose of vaccine provides protection for 10 years and probably for life. A 3C warming in the United States could increase the range of Aedes aegypti, a mosquito species that can carry the viruses' dengue, yellow fever and malaria. "Yellow fever, which produces vomiting, a high fever, and may cause jaundice and hemorrhaging, is fatal in 10-50% of the cases. This viral presence can increase into regular epidemics. These outbreaks tend to spread outwards from one source to cover a wide area. As minimum temperatures climb, the disease could spread into previously malaria free regions. "(3) Although malaria has the potential to cover large parts of the world, the IPCC panel found it unlikely that the disease will run uncontrolled through the United States and other developed countries. There are three types of transmission cycle for yellow fever: sylvatic, intermediate and urban.
Common topics in this essay:
Memphis Tennessee,
South America,
Health Organization,
Alaska Siberia,
North America,
,
United Europe,
Climate Change,
yellow fever,
Africa Americas,
dengue fever,
aedes aegypti,
global warming,
infectious diseases,
ae aegypti,
Europe Caribbean,
incubation period mosquito,
human population,
climate change,
fever epidemics,
fever dengue fever,
warming expected,
yellow fever epidemics,
fever yellow fever,
malaria yellow fever,
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Acceptance Essays
