heidi
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 Posted: 04/21/08 - 03:46 Post subject: Climate Changes Will Endanger Human Health, Scientists Repor |
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The World Health Organization has reported that climate change will affect the whole world especially the developing countries and increase risks of spreading diseases.
The WHO is making a global call to action to help countries adapt to changing climate and the expected negative health effects.
They are predicting a nightmarish scenario of the future. The researchers calculated that more frequent drought will further threaten food security and increase already present malnutrition, responsible for 3.5 million deaths a year.
Extreme weather disasters such as storms and floods will spread cholera, typhoid, diarrhea and other deadly diseases while the heat waves in urban areas will increase disability and death, mostly in elderly people.
By 2020, crop yields in parts of Africa are expected to drop by half. Women and young girls in parts of Asia are already spending six to nine hours collecting water and the climate change will add more stress in areas that are already fragile with marginal livelihoods and thin margins of survival.
The affects of climate change will depend on a country's location and factors such as rainfall, humidity, and temperature but it is certain that the global impact on health will be negative.
Changes in temperatures and patterns of rainfall are to alter the geographical distribution of insect vectors spread infectious diseases with malaria and dengue being the greatest public health concerns. These diseases threaten to get on airplanes and ships and reach other parts of the world where the conditions are ripe for these diseases and to begin transmission.
The globalized society puts us at risk of global climate changes. When they occur in one part of the world, the whole world will be at risk.
The WHO calls upon the actions to establish early warning systems so everyone could respond appropriately to the increased health threats. |
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