02-01 Influenza
Flu seasons in the northern hemisphere are usually from November to March. And the hope is that our warming climate will mean weaker flu seasons. But viruses mutate and who knows for sure how climate change will impact the scourge of influenza. There is something like 130 known forms of the influenza virus, and they…
02-02 Malaria
Over 200 million people a year are bitten by the mosquito that carries the malaria parasite. Climate change that impacts patterns of rainfall and humidity will widen the range of the mosquitoes and bring the disease to new areas and new populations. It’s a deadly female mosquito-borne tropical disease that kills about 400,000 people a…
02-03 Dengue Fever
Not the killer like malaria but 200-300 million contract this mosquito carried virus. And it is moving north. Something common today in the Caribbean, it is showing up in places like Texas and Florida. Dengue Fever, often referred to as the “traveller’s disease”, can be found in over 100 nations. But, more importantly, it is…
02-04 West Nile
The West Nile virus is another one of those mosquito-borne diseases, and part of the same virus family as Dengue, Zika and Yellow Fever. It is being spread about the globe as our weather warms. It hits horses too. But they have a horse vaccine. A human version is on its way. The West Nile…
02-05 Lyme
Tick-borne and bacterial, Lyme disease is spreading around the world as the climate warms. A disease that is difficult to diagnose because it has the same symptoms of so many other diseases. Lyme disease is a tick-borne, bacterial disease that causes emotional and physical debilitation. It can lead to arthritis, heart disease and a number…
02-06 Cholera
Cholera is a water-borne infectious disease found in nations where people live in crowded conditions without adequate sanitation facilities. Extreme weather caused by climate change means flooding and a growing threat of cholera. Fortunately, there is a vaccine available. Cholera is a disease caused by a form of bacteria that survives in contaminated water. People…