Dr. Zhang Wenhong,the leader of Shanghai’s clinical expert team for Covid-19, is now taking steps to understand the intersection of climate change and infectious diseases. His attempt is to highlight the warning climatic conditions which influences the mutation and spread of pathogens.
Zhang said, “Research examining this relationship will become a growing focus globally”. He further explained that as the Earth’s Climate Changes, pathogens’ evolution and mutation are also changing. A study published in the Journal Geophysical Research: Atmospheres in 2020 found that ocean surface warming in the subtropical region is expanding the width of the tropics”.
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What has the South China Post Indicated?
South China Morning Post reports that the implications of this research are significant. In the United States, the incidence rates of encephalitis and Lyme disease, spread by ticks, are increasing.
In China, mosquito-borne dengue is now found in places like the Yangtze River Basin which were not affected before. Zhang also mentioned Climate Change to be the primary cause for high levels of Malaria cases in Southeast Asian and African countries.
The World Health Organization on Vector bone disease
The World Health Organization has also indicated vector-borne diseases like malaria being impacted due to changes in global temperature and precipitation patterns. There is a hypothesis that the Covid-19 pandemic was spread to humans from bats, and their habitat is expanding due to climate change.
Zhang and experts are also working towards creating global disease management, agreements and strategies. The scientist needs to provide enough data, evidence, and corresponding suggestions. This involves collaboration with the University of Hong Kong and includes experts in climate change, public health, infectious disease control, and public policy. It aims to develop early warning systems for pandemics, combining expertise from different fields to provide evidence for policymakers.
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What is the initiative taken by One Health?
Zhang explained the importance of Antimicrobial resistance and described it as a growing challenge due to environmental climate changes. Scientists all over the world agree that by 2050, annually, 10 million people will die because of drug resistance.
The One Health initiative by the World Health Organization, advocated an integrated global approach involving researchers, doctors, government officials, world organizations, and global communities to tackle these issues. According to him, the the Covid -19 pandemic has not seen the day of light yet. As the mutation and evolution of the virus are still of great concern. Thus the research and surveillance are crucial for understanding and preparing for future pandemics.
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This Article has been written by Ms Vijaya Pramodini SK, an aspiring journalist, who is currently dedicated to her studies in Journalism and communication. With a keen eye for authenticity, she strives to uncover and present the real facts, embodying the principles of ethical journalism.
