Climate change will promote many diseases

lucidwaters/Epictura

Published the 04.08.2017 at 07: 45

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warming climatiquemaladie infectious

The impact of global warming on the emergence and spread of infectious diseases could be more important than expected. Researchers from the university of Liverpool (Uk) have evaluated how bacteria, viruses, other micro-organisms and parasites that cause human and animal diseases present in Europe could be affected.

And the results are not encouraging. “Although the link between climate change and infectious diseases is well established, we were not aware until now of the magnitude of the effects, and diseases that could be most affected,” said Dr. Mary McIntyre, an epidemiologist at the university of Liverpool and lead author of the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Zika and Lyme first signs

To evaluate their sensitivity to global warming, british researchers have done a literature review of scientific publications on the 100 human pathogens, and animals that have the most significant impact on health.

They noticed that nearly two-thirds of these pathogens are sensitive to temperature and climate, and that nearly half of them are impacted.

The diseases transmitted by insects and ticks are the most sensitive to climate. This was recently seen in Brazil, with the outbreak of Zika conveyed by the mosquito, but also in France and in Europe, with the increase of cases of Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks.

Concern over cholera

Other pathogens are favoured by warming. Diseases such as cholera, liver fluke or anthrax would find in Europe an environment much more conducive to their development.

In animals, infections such as the disease blue tongue, may be favoured. The Schmallenberg virus, which affects cattle, for example, has already taken advantage of the beginnings of global warming. It has made its appearance in Europe in 2011.

These results will help public authorities to prioritise the surveillance of pathogens, and thus to anticipate in order to strengthen the protection against the development of infectious diseases.