Climate change seen aiding spread of deadly diseases

[villager]

Source: Reuters

Climate change seen aiding spread of deadly diseases

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - A "deadly dozen" diseases ranging from avian flu to yellow fever are likely to spread more because of climate change, the Wildlife Conservation Society said on Tuesday. The society, based in the Bronx Zoo in the United States and which works in 60 nations, urged better monitoring of wildlife health to help give an early warning of how pathogens might spread with global warming.

It listed the "deadly dozen" as avian flu, tick-borne babesia, cholera, ebola, parasites, plague, lyme disease, red tides of algal blooms, Rift Valley fever, sleeping sickness, tuberculosis and yellow fever. "Even minor disturbances can have far reaching consequences on what diseases (wild animals) might encounter and transmit as climate changes," said Steven Sanderson, head of the society.

"The term 'climate change' conjures images of melting ice caps and rising sea levels that threaten coastal cities and nations, but just as important is how increasing temperatures and fluctuating precipitation levels will change the distribution of dangerous pathogens," he said.

"Monitoring wildlife health will help us predict where those trouble spots will occur and plan how to prepare," he said in a statement.

The U.N. Climate Panel says that greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from human use of fossil fuels, are raising temperatures and will disrupt rainfall patterns and have impacts ranging from heatwaves to melting glaciers.

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Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081007/sc_nm/us_climate_health

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Even the Plague is comin' back! Thanks, you Flat Earth climate-change deniers!

[aquart]

1. Well, that should help with the unemployment crisis.

Isn't it wonderful how Nature achieves balance?

[Nambe]

2. Not to mention deadly bugs, weather, and that sinking feeling.

[NC_Nurse]

3. Will it only take the "Raptured"? Fine with me.

[villager]

4. I think the "raptured" will be mighty surprised to find themselves dealing with this

...just like the rest of us.

Maybe the disappointment will be so great they'll start individually "self-rapturing?"

[Delphinus]

5. Needs widespread distribution

and talking heads to make the masses aware. (I know, I'm kidding myself with the masses awakening.)

[OakCliffDem]

6. Drill Here, Drill Now baby - more CO2 in the air is just what we need

Obama as President is what we need. He will promote clean, renewable energy rather than more pollution from hydrocarbons.

[Uncle Joe]

7. Thanks for the thread, villager.

Kicked and recommended.