With rising temperatures, some diseases have increased circulation due to the warmer climate and the high incidence of rain.
These climatic characteristics are favorable for the proliferation of mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as dengue , as the accumulation of water becomes easier during this period.
Water tanks, vats, aquatic plant pots and tires become deposits for mosquito eggs. It only takes a rain for these eggs to hatch and release mosquitoes.
However, regardless of the time of year, these risks are increasing more and more and are worrying health entities and agencies.
According to new research published in the scientific journal PLOS Neglected Tropical , this is due to global warming.
The impacts of climate change
In general, global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the oceans and the Earth’s atmosphere, capable of gradually increasing the temperature of the terrestrial environment.
The phenomenon is already a reality, which serves as a warning for future exposure of the entire population to an environment conducive to diseases caused by mosquitoes.
Based on this, the study’s researchers analyzed what it would be like if two mosquitoes of different species ( Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus ) – main causes of dengue, chikungunya and zika – circulated around the world in parallel to the increase in temperature.
As a result, it was seen that disease could affect virtually all areas of the globe, becoming a threat in the next 50 years.
Even places with a less favorable climate for mosquitoes to proliferate will also be impacted.
One billion people
One billion. This is the number of people, according to the study, who could be exposed to diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and zika between 2050 and 2080 if the temperatures on planet Earth continue to rise.
According to the researchers, East Asia, Central America, East Africa, the United States and Canada have the potential to suffer from the biggest increases in disease records.
Even in more extreme regions, viruses are capable of causing large-scale outbreaks, and also spread to other countries.
While the world population is at risk for diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and zika, the best way to avoid them is to protect yourself from mosquitoes with preventive measures.
For example, avoid standing water, keep water tanks tightly closed and leave sand on the edges of plant pots.