The recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to a larger threat to human health: climate change. With global warming on the rise, the impact on human health is a frightening understatement, particularly for those who are less fortunate. Here are four ways that climate change could potentially threaten human life.
India, being the natural habitat of mosquitoes, is not immune to their threat. Although strides have been made in pest control, global warming is creating optimal conditions for mosquito infestation. Studies show that mosquitoes are migrating to higher altitudes and latitudes, benefiting from increased rainfall and longer breeding periods caused by rising temperatures.
Lyme disease, caused by deer ticks, is a concern in India. Symptoms include flu-like symptoms such as fever, joint pain and a rash. Untreated, it can affect the heart, joints, and nervous system. Lyme disease outbreaks have been linked to climate change with higher risks in residential areas adjacent to forests.
Hay fever, one of the most common outdoor allergies, affects one in four Indians. Studies show that pollen production is increasing each year due to the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the air. The combination of this and earlier flowering periods could lead to an increase in pollen-related hospitalizations.
With global warming continuing, the Arctic’s frozen soil is thawing, potentially awakening dormant zombie germs that are highly resistant to modern antibiotics, causing diseases that could disrupt ecosystems and endanger human health. Scientists predict a two-thirds chance of permafrost thaw by 2100.
Climate change remains a significant challenge that threatens human life and the planet as a whole. Awareness and action are necessary to combat this threat and keep humans, wildlife, and the environment healthy.
To stay updated about the weather, science, space and COVID-19, download The Weather Channel app.