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A billion people will be newly exposed to diseases like dengue fever as world temperatures rise


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2019 Apr 1, 6:12am   1,216 views  17 comments

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Summary: As many as a billion people could be newly exposed to disease-carrying mosquitoes by the end of the century because of global warming, says a new study that examines temperature changes on a monthly basis across the world.

Source: Georgetown University Medical Center

Scientists say the news is bad even in areas with only a slight risk of having a climate suited for mosquitoes, because the viruses they carry are notorious for explosive outbreaks when they show up at the right place under the right conditions.

"Climate change is the largest and most comprehensive threat to global health security," says global change biologist Colin J. Carlson, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow in Georgetown University's biology department, and co-lead author of the new study. "Mosquitoes are only a part of the challenge, but after the Zika outbreak in Brazil in 2015, we're especially worried about what comes next."

Published in the open access journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases ("Global expansion and redistribution of Aedes-borne virus transmission risk with climate change"), the research team led by Sadie J. Ryan of the University of Florida and Carlson, studied what would happen if the two most common disease-carrying mosquitoes -- Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus -- track and move as the temperature changes over decades.



According to the World Health Organization, mosquitoes are one of the deadliest animals in the world, carrying diseases that cause millions of deaths every year. Both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus can carry the dengue, chikunguyna and Zika viruses, as well as at least a dozen other emerging diseases that researchers say could be a threat in the next 50 years.

With global warming, the scientists say, almost all of the world's population could be exposed at some point in the next 50 years. As the temperature increases, they expect year-round transmissions in the tropics and seasonal risks almost everywhere else. A greater intensity of infections is also predicted.

"These diseases, which we think of as strictly tropical, have been showing up already in areas with suitable climates, such as Florida, because humans are very good at moving both bugs and their pathogens around the globe," explains Ryan, associate professor of medical geography at Florida.

"The risk of disease transmission is a serious problem, even over the next few decades," Carlson says. "Places like Europe, North America, and high elevations in the tropics that used to be too cold for the viruses will face new diseases like dengue."



More severe climate change would produce proportionally worse population exposures for the Aedes aegypti mosquito. But in areas with the worst climate increase, including west African and southeast Asia, serious reductions are expected for the Aedes albopictus mosquito, most noticeably in southeast Asia and west Africa. This mosquito carries dengue, chikunguyna and Zika.

"Understanding the geographic shifts of risks really puts this in perspective," Ryan says. "While we may see changing numbers and think we have the answer, imagine a world too hot for these mosquitoes."

"This might sound like a good news, bad news scenario but it's all bad news if we end up in the worst timeline for climate change," Carlson says. "Any scenario where a region gets too warm to transmit dengue is one where we also have different but equally severe threats in other health sectors."

More: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190328150856.htm

Study cited in paragraph three published in the open access journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases:

https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0007213

PDF: https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0007213&type=printable

#Disease #Dengue #GlobalHealth #Mosquitoes #Climate #Viruses

Comments 1 - 17 of 17        Search these comments

1   Onvacation   2019 Apr 1, 6:31am  

You do know the temperature is falling, don'tcha?
2   anonymous   2019 Apr 1, 6:37am  

@Onvacation - not playing that game with you. Try someone else - you are on ignore for a reason.
3   Y   2019 Apr 1, 6:53am  

Well, the other 8 billion should be ok, right?
4   Onvacation   2019 Apr 1, 7:08am  

Kakistocracy says
@Onvacation - not playing that game with you. Try someone else - you are on ignore for a reason.

Remain ignorant if you please. Doesn't change facts.
5   komputodo   2019 Apr 1, 8:07am  

Kakistocracy says
Summary: As many as a billion people could be newly exposed to disease-carrying mosquitoes by the end of the century because of global warming, says a new study that examines temperature changes on a monthly basis across the world.


As many as a billion people could be newly exposed to disease-carrying mosquitoes by the end of the century even without global warming, says a new study.

We must declare WAR on mosquitoes...First of all, lets fly in a bunch of rich dudes to DAVOS so they can discuss it over surf and turf lunches. Then we could fund a few multi million dollar studies and after about 5 years or so, start to implement a plan to eradicate all mosquitoes...we can go to the areas in the world where mosquitoes are most populous and spray massive amounts of cancer causing petrochemical insecticides......a win win for both the petrochemical companies and big pharma...and all on the taxpayers dime.....what's not to like? ...
7   anonymous   2019 Apr 1, 12:32pm  

BlueSardine says
Well, the other 8 billion should be ok, right?


Not quite sport - read the entire PDF etc and this situation poses a significant risk for the U.S. alone in the coming years - the world is woefully unprepared for what is coming at them in the line of new and exciting viruses, outbreaks etc. - it will however put a dent in the overall population
and will make big pharma some nice pocket change - plus maybe a war or two for the neocon set
8   FortwayeAsFuckJoeBiden   2019 Apr 1, 1:49pm  

Fucking homos need to stop fucking and spreading AIDS!!!!
9   Ceffer   2019 Apr 1, 2:01pm  

More toxic fumes from automobiles will solve this problem.

Attach 'Global Warming' to any ole grant application and show some apocryphal, doom 'n gloom association BINGO, the joy of grant money from the Globalist machine!
10   anonymous   2019 Apr 1, 2:11pm  

Ceffer says
the joy of grant money from the Globalist machine!


Only to be outdone by the joy of subsidies at taxpayers expense to the War Machine and big business of all types not to mention the banks.
11   Onvacation   2019 Apr 1, 2:45pm  

Kakistocracy says
the world is woefully unprepared for what is coming at them in the line of new and exciting viruses, outbreaks,
... wetbulb etc.
12   MisdemeanorRebel   2019 Apr 1, 3:08pm  

Dengue is where I live. Just do what Singapore did to eliminate mosquito borne diseases, have patrols fine people for leaving rain buckets unemptied/uncovered.

Societies that are unfit for survival will suffer the consequences of emphasizing Clan over Nation. :)
13   komputodo   2019 Apr 1, 11:41pm  

Kakistocracy says
the world is woefully unprepared for what is coming at them in the line of new and exciting viruses, outbreaks etc.

As it has always been.
14   Y   2019 Apr 2, 5:11am  

Well then let the end of the century peeps pay for it.
Each generaction has their own cross to bear.
Kakistocracy says
As many as a billion people could be newly exposed to disease-carrying mosquitoes by the end of the century because of global warming, says a new study that examines temperature changes on a monthly basis across the world
15   theoakman   2019 Apr 2, 5:24am  

The CDC is another agency that constantly threatens us with massive viral outbreaks to secure funding. 10 years ago, I got put through nonstop workshops on Swine Flu prevention. Science deniers are the ones who refuse to acknowledge the potential GMO work they are doing to combat mosquitoes. Science deniers are the ones that don't believe we can develop vaccines and treat these ailments. It amazes me that those that criticize people who don't think climate change is real have such little faith in science themselves.
16   Shaman   2019 Apr 2, 6:08am  

UC Irvine developed a genetically engineered way to rid the world of mosquitos, but the authorities won’t let them test it.
17   HeadSet   2019 Apr 2, 6:24am  

Quigley says
UC Irvine developed a genetically engineered way to rid the world of mosquitos, but the authorities won’t let them test it.


I would like to see such exterminations done in places like Hawaii, where mosquitoes are an invasive species. Not sure about places like Alaska, where massive bird migrations happen every spring as the bird fly up there to feast on those box kite sized vampire bugs.

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