The human body, since its origins, has had to adapt and strengthen itself in the face of diverse habitats and conditions. However, the question that arises is: will Europeans be able to adapt to global warming? A study published in Scientific Reports, led by scientist Marie McIntyre of the University of Liverpool, indicates that the threat of pathogens —that is, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms—could increase on the Old Continent in the coming years. What future awaits us?
Each region of the world is prone to different diseases, and as the global average temperature continues to rise, Pathogens are beginning to colonize areas that were previously too cold for them.A good example is the tiger mosquito, which arrived in Spain a decade ago and is responsible for diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever, infections that were previously foreign to this region. But that's not all we need to worry about.
Researchers have reviewed documents on 100 human and other pathogens in domestic animals present in Europe, concluding that Diseases transmitted by insects and ticks are the most sensitive to climate.
As McIntyre explains, "Although a clear link has been found between climate change and infectious diseases, we previously lacked a clear understanding of the magnitude of these effects and which diseases would be most affected. The climate sensitivity of pathogens is a crucial indicator, which means that Evaluating which pathogens are most sensitive to climate and their characteristics becomes vital to preparing for the future.«.
The future in Europe may be complex and problematic.
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Weather conditions and their impact on health
In Europe, global warming has serious repercussions for public health. Climate conditions are changing rapidly, making Emerging diseases and already known infections have the potential to spread geographicallyThis happens due to several factors:
- temperature rise: Higher temperatures can extend the transmission season for many infectious diseases.
- Vector mobility: Organisms such as ticks and mosquitoes may move to new areas as the climate becomes more favorable for them.
- Humidity and drought conditions: Changes in rainfall patterns can promote the proliferation of pathogens in water or soil.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the increase in diseases such as dengue fever and West Nile fever in Europe. According to a 2023 report, climate change is expanding the distribution of these diseases to areas where cases were not previously reported. For example, dengue, which used to be exclusive to tropical climates, is expanding in European regions such as southern Spain. It is also important to consider how the temperature increase influences the spread of these pathologies.
Climate-sensitive pathogens
Research indicates that Almost 66% of the pathogens analyzed are sensitive to climatic variations, where factors such as temperature and humidity play a fundamental role. Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya and leptospirosis, show high sensitivity to weather conditions, indicating an increased risk of outbreaks in the near future.
Mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, which are the main vectors of dengue, have proven to be particularly adaptable to climate change. Consequently, this will increase the risk of outbreaks and the burden of diseases transmitted by these insects in Europe. This highlights the need for immediate action to prevent the spread of dengue. control of risks associated with climate change. In addition, it is important that we consider how the adaptation of plants to climate change could indirectly impact the spread of these pathogens.
Impact on public health
The impact of climate change on public health in Europe is manifested on multiple fronts:
1. Respiratory diseases: Increase in conditions such as asthma due to deteriorating air quality caused by extreme heat.
2. Cardiovascular diseases: Heat stress can exacerbate these conditions, leading to increased mortality during heat waves.
3. Food insecurity: Adverse weather conditions affect agricultural production, resulting in limited access to fresh and nutritious food.
4. Mental health: The increase in extreme weather events can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems among the population.
Heat waves are becoming more frequent and severe. Combined with an aging population and urbanization, this has put the most vulnerable communities at considerably greater risk. According to the WHO report, in some cases, heat-related deaths are twice as common among women as among men, highlighting gender disparities in health. adaptation to these challenges is essential for public health and must consider the impact of
Prevention and adaptation measures
To mitigate the impact of climate change on public health, it is crucial to implement a set of strategies:
– They must be developed public health action plans that respond to heat waves and disease outbreaks. This includes creating green spaces in urban areas to help moderate temperatures.
- The education and awareness Educating the population about the risks associated with vector-borne diseases is essential. The community needs to know how to protect itself and prevent these infections.
– Invest in research and monitoring Understanding pathogen behavior and its relationship to climate change is essential for predicting and responding to future outbreaks. As we face a increase in forest fires, monitoring of public health effects becomes more important.
– Collaboration between governments, public health sectors, and international organizations is necessary to share data and effective strategies.
A collaborative approach can help create effective and sustainable solutions that protect vulnerable communities and strengthen resilience to climate change.
Adapting to these new challenges requires not only changes in health policies, but also a global commitment to sustainability and climate action. The health of our communities and our future depend on the decisions we make today to address global warming.
