Malaria
and Climate Change – the connection:
Take a few minutes to learn more about
the links between climate change and
global health.
Here
are some quick facts:
Malaria
is of great public health
concern, and may be the vector-borne
disease more sensitive to
long-term climate change.
–Climate Change and
Human Health – Risks
and Responses
Temperature
increase can increase cases of malaria:
The latest scientific research shows
that even a small temperature increase,
around 2-3ºC, greatly increases
the number of people who would be
at risk for contracting malaria. How
many? Scientists estimate an additional
3-5% of the global population could
be at risk. Three percent sounds small,
but that is 181 million people.
Increased
breeding sites: Malaria is
transmitted by mosquitoes, which breed
in standing water. Even a small amount,
for example rain water that collects
in abandoned tires, provides sufficient
habitat for mosquito eggs.
In places where climate change results
in moist, humid weather, there will
be more standing water and more places
for mosquitoes to breed. Recent studies
also indicate that malaria epidemic
risk increases five-fold in the year
after an El Niño weather pattern.
Climate
change currently contributes
to the global burden of disease
and premature deaths.
–Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth
Assessment Report
More
areas at risk: Changing weather
patterns can mean that the temperature
zone hospitable to mosquito breeding
may increase or shift.
Poor
people suffer the worst effects of
malaria: According to the
Centers for Disease Control, “Poor
people living in rural areas who lack
knowledge, money, or access to health
care are at greater risk for this
disease.” Health effects will
be felt globally, but not at the same
rate or gravity. Those least responsible
for global warming will be the first
to bear the brunt.
What you can do right now:
Click
here for simple steps you can
take right now to lower your carbon
emissions and prevent the worst impacts
of climate change.
Click
here to learn even more about
malaria and to send a net and save
a life. A lifesaving bed net costs
just $10 and protects a family for
four years.
Temperature
increase can increase cases of malaria:
The latest scientific research shows
that even a small temperature increase,
around 2-3ºC, greatly increases
the number of people who would be
at risk for contracting malaria. How
many? Scientists estimate an additional
3-5% of the global population could
be at risk. Three percent sounds small,
but that is 181 million people. 
Increased
breeding sites: Malaria is
transmitted by mosquitoes, which breed
in standing water. Even a small amount,
for example rain water that collects
in abandoned tires, provides sufficient
habitat for mosquito eggs.
More
areas at risk: Changing weather
patterns can mean that the temperature
zone hospitable to mosquito breeding
may increase or shift. 
Poor
people suffer the worst effects of
malaria: According to the
Centers for Disease Control, “Poor
people living in rural areas who lack
knowledge, money, or access to health
care are at greater risk for this
disease.” Health effects will
be felt globally, but not at the same
rate or gravity. Those least responsible
for global warming will be the first
to bear the brunt.
Click
here
