Diseases Returning due to Global Warming
© 1909 Ulysses Sherman Grant & ©2004 Bruce F. Molnia. - Wikipedia Commons - The melting Polar Ice Caps.
Introduction
The Polar Ice Caps are melting and whether you believe it is Global Warming or the natural cycle of the Earth; it is indeed happening. There are many risks to this event from rising sea levels, to larger storms, but in my belief the greatest risk is the bacteria and vector-borne diseases. As the Earth warms and the polar ice melts; we have longer summers in certain areas of the world; people will migrate. Along with this migration, humans will be exposed to new bacteria and vector born diseases; or water born disease from the portable water. There is also a threat of infectious diseases coming back to life from thousands, if not a million years ago; that is frozen in the permafrost.
As the permafrost melts the bacteria that lay dormant will begin to grow and bring with it diseases. Also, carcass that lay frozen that were killed by diseases, like anthrax, will be thawed and eaten by vector transmitting animals, as mosquito’s, fleas, etc., or contaminate the ground water and soil. That will in turn infect the human population through biting, drinking water, and crops. How is Global warming responsible? What are the diseases? How will they be transmitted? How can we prevent or prepare for these diseases?
How is Global warming responsible?
Global warming has been said, to be caused by large amounts of carbon dioxide, released into the air. Many believe that industry and automobiles are the leading cause of Global warming. Than there are many who believe that global warming is just the natural cycle of the Earth. No matter your own personal belief, the evidence proves that the polar ice caps are indeed melting and exposing the land below; that has been frozen for thousands; if not a million.
Permafrost is the first concern for the spread of disease that have laid dormant for thousands of years. Permafrost is the perfect house for microbes and viruses as it is cold, there is no oxygen, and it is dark. (The Straight Time, May 6, 2017) As the Earth warms deeper, permafrost is thawing at new levels and the bacteria that lay dormant is coming to life and growing. The permafrost thaw is also exposing carcasses that died of disease.
© Tim Evanson - Flickr - Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, 2015
What are these diseases?
The disease that could be released by the permafrost is Anthrax, Zika, tick borne diseases, Cholera, Spanish flu, Bubonic Plague, and Small Pox. These diseases have grave consequences; as the Bubonic plague caused millions of deaths Europe beginning in the 1346 to 1353; killing 50 million people. (Benedictow, 2005) Bubonic Plague is a bacterium known as Yersinia pestis, pictured above.
How will they be transmitted?
As the permafrost melts it will expose mass graves buried; disease bacteria will begin to grow, and the warmth of the environment will bring the diseases back. Once the thaw starts vector species as in; mosquitoes, flies, flees, predators will graze and spread the disease to humans or other animals; that humans consume. As these frozen corpses thaw and melt, the runoff will infect the ground water supply and soil. The same will happen with the bacteria when it is washed away. This will too cause the disease to spread. As the Earth warms and places that were once frozen will be explored, settled, or animals will graze upon it bringing these diseases the right opportunity to spread.
Evidence
According to The Straight Times; “In August 2016, a boy died in the Yamal Peninsula in the Arctic Circle, a 12-year-old boy died and at least 20 people were hospitalized after contracting anthrax, a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria. Theory has it that more than 75 years ago, a reindeer infected with anthrax died and its frozen carcass became trapped beneath a layer of frozen soil, or permafrost. It stayed there until a heat wave in the summer last year caused the permafrost to thaw. This exposed the reindeer carcass, releasing infectious anthrax into nearby water and soil, and then into the food supply. Over 2,000 reindeer grazing nearby became infected, which then led to the small number of human cases. Investigations into the anthrax outbreak also sparked concern that smallpox could return, as Siberia's melting permafrost exposes ancient graves. The BBC said there are fears that the anthrax outbreak will not be an isolated case.” (The Straight Time, May 6, 2017)
How can we prevent or prepare for these diseases?
Due to the advancements in medicines since some of these diseases were present, we can treat them. However, do to Global Warming and the changes in the weather, the animal migrations pattern, the droughts, rising cost of food we could still see many deaths. The reasons are; the poor do not have the ability to keep up with the changing economic times. As the poor become infected and do not have the ability to pay for proper nutritious food to keep their immune systems healthy, they will not have the resources for good health care, they will become infected and spread the disease. There is also the issue of countries who are too poor to provide proper health care or have a good food supply, than undeveloped countries are too, also high at risk.
Conclusion
It doesn’t matter what you believe caused the Earth to warm, it has indeed warmed and caused the ice and permafrost to thaw. These two activities have seen disease thought gone to begin to grow. As the permafrost continues to melt; more humans and animals will venture into new areas, diseases like Anthrax, Small Pox, and the Bubonic Plague may be contracted. Do you believe there will be diseases that thaw we have never seen, with consequences we can only imagine?
Reference: