The Effects of Climate Change on the Spread of Infectious Diseases

1. The Effects of Climate Change on the Spread of Infectious Diseases

2. There are four ways climate affects infectious disease • Rising sea levels • Humidity • Changes in rainfall amounts • Temperature changes

3. Many diseases are spread to humans by tiny insects • Mosquitoes are responsible for many infections in tropical areas • Ticks spread diseases in drier areas, usually more up north

4. Mosquitoes and the spread of malaria • More than 3,000 children die from malaria each day • Climate change has an affect on this disease because mosquitoes are unable to thrive in extremely high temperatures • They tend to live longer in areas where temperatures do not vary greatly

5. Ticks and the spread of Lyme disease • Lyme disease hits closer to home because it is common in the U.S. • It is a life-threatening disease that can be treated with antibiotics if caught in time • Climate affects this because ticks tend to live longer in hot, humid areas

6. Natural disasters and their affect on disease spreading • Severe flooding can lead to contamination of water • Severe drought can also make clean drinking water hard to come by • Cholera is a deadly disease that is spread through water

7. Diseases common in America that occur during certain climate changes • Influenza is a common infection that is currently prevalent due to the weather change • Meningitis, a more serious illness tends to thrive in a dry climate

8. Alarming facts • Scientists are finding it increasingly possible that deadly diseases such as malaria could make it’s way up north due to the harmful affects of global warming • The reason for this is because the disease thrives in warmer weather, which is become more common in the north due to global warming

9. What we can do • Educate ourselves on the harmful effects global warming has on all of our lives • Find out what we can do to preserve energy and keep the earth as healthy as possible