More bad news about climate change - asthma and malaria increase

A new report was released today entitled "Climate change Futures," by Harvard Medical School's Dr. Paul Epstein in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program and reinsurer Swiss Re. The report details how the changing climate will increase the spread of malaria, while worsening allergies and asthma.

Rising temperatures increase the range of the mosquitoes and ticks that carry maladies like malaria, West Nile virus and Lyme disease, the study said.

Cases of asthma, which is worsened by particulates in the air, can increase from greater amounts of CO2, the report said. Plants high in pollen and some soil fungi grow better with higher levels of the gas. -Reuters

The report also looks at the financial implications of these diseases and estimates that American healthcare costs will likely rise by another $18 million in response to the asthma, allergy and malaria increases.

posted by Sarai @ 10:20 PM