Global warming from climate change could create new infection routes between animals and humans. The airborne pollution from raging forest fires could lead to more severe respiratory symptoms. Could this be the old familiar getting worse? Or will warming bring new airborne diseases? Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health suspects the latter may the case.
Climate Change is Creating More Favorable Conditions
Harvard T H Chan says future health risks are not easy to predict. However, it has noticed greater virulence among waterborne diseases, tick fevers, and mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever.
Moreover, changes in temperature and rainfall patterns correlate with the emergence of new infectious agents. So yes, warming could bring new airborne sickness. There has been a trend towards ‘the greater emergence of infectious diseases in recent decades, Harvard T H Chan explains.
Most of these new diseases crossed from wild animal species to humans, as opposed to from domestic livestock. Furthermore, humans are now able to travel widely, and bring new diseases back to massive concentrations of city people. But with COVID-19 other forces may also influence the outcome.
Other Factors May Influence New Airborne Diseases from Warming
We are changing our rules of engagement with nature, the School of Public Health warns. We humans are placing unsustainable demands on our environment. We are losing species forever at an alarming rate due to destruction of their natural habitat.
‘Historically, we have grown as a species in partnership with the plants and animals we live with,’ says Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health. ‘So, when we change the rules of the game by drastically changing the climate and life on earth. We have to expect that it will affect our health.’
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