Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Climate Change could spread disease
Share:
by Amy Judd | October 8, 2008 at 09:49 am
186 views | 14 Recommendations | 8 comments
Photos
Climate change could be responsible for the spread of a deadly dozen of diseases, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Because these diseases are caused by an organism or virus that spreads quicker in warmer climate, the infection rate of these could only grow.
"Even minor disturbances can have far reaching consequences on what diseases (wild animals) might encounter and transmit as climate changes," said Steven Sanderson.
"The term 'climate change' conjures images of melting ice caps and rising sea levels that threaten coastal cities and nations.
12 Deadly Diseases
Avian Flu Tick-borne Babesia Cholera Ebola Parasites Plague Lyme Disease Red Tides of Algal Blooms Rift Valley Fever Sleeping Sickness Tuberculosis Yellow Fever "But just as important is how increasing temperatures and fluctuating precipitation levels will change the distribution of dangerous pathogens."
According to the UN Climate Change Panel, greenhouse gas emissions are raising temperatures.
Wildlife could provide an early warning sign to this potential spread.
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Swan
Hillsboro, Oregon, United States
g_yulong1
Orlando, Florida, United States
scamazine
Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, United States
bigdani
Spaindrunkel
Seattle, Washington, United Statesmieeu
AustraliaAnimalography
New Zealandbilliereeder
Chico, California, United Statesmynameisharsha
India
antinsa
Guangzhou, Guandong, Chinaenes caglar
Turkey
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 12:54 on October 8th, 2008
While I was on vacation, on the Oregon Coast, there were two dead birds on the beach. I just felt like snapping a photo.
drunkel has contributed a photo to this story.
at 13:57 on October 8th, 2008
mynameisharsha has contributed a photo to this story.
at 14:02 on October 8th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. Thanks for this.
at 14:52 on October 8th, 2008
Couple global warming with increasing poverty and a decaying infrastructure allowing more breeding grounds and you have a real problem.
at 17:23 on October 8th, 2008
Lord! Have mercy on us! Spare us from the ignorance!
at 01:22 on October 9th, 2008
Nice story. Good to say it loud and clear.
at 01:24 on October 9th, 2008
at 19:32 on October 12th, 2008
I'm actually researching extremophiles in Lassen National Park, in Northern California. I don't know how climate change would effect these guys unless everything froze over. They live in a lake that is 50 C, and pH 2 at the base of a volcano.
billiereeder has contributed a photo to this story.