Is how we treat the planet to blame? The World Health Organisation say mpox has become a public health emergency. Some think climate change is one of the causes.
X
Next
Mpox virus sparks global health alert
Is how we treat the planet to blame? The World Health Organisation say mpox has become a public health emergency. Some think climate change is one of the causes.
X
PreviousNext
Mpox - a diseaseAn illness or sickness. spread by contact between people - is spreading quickly in the Democratic Republic of CongoA country in central Africa with a population of 99 million. (DRC).
There have been more than 17,500 recorded cases in Africa so far this year, more than all of 2023. The virusA very small piece of material that causes disease. has moved from the DRC to 12 neighbouring countries.
On Tuesday, the World Health OrganisationThe United Nations agency responsible for global public health. (WHO) called mpox a public health emergency.
Mpox is similar to smallpoxA disease estimated to have killed 300 million people in the 20th Century.. People with mpox feel like they have the flu, and often have a skin rash. The first human case we know about was in 1970 in the DRC.
Most people recover. But mpox can be deadly. There have been 460 recorded deaths this year so far in Africa.
Doctors believe that a new variantA slightly different version. of mpox is causing the disease to spread more quickly.
Many scientists believe that our changing planet is making disease worse.
Warmer winters and longer summers make it easier for insect-based diseases to spread. Ticks, which spread Lyme diseaseAll illness caused by bacteria-carrying tick bites., are being found further north.
Changes in rain patterns and water temperature can affect the spread of diseases carried through water.
Others think that the link between climate change and disease is less clear. There are lots of reasons why diseases might spread. It is hard to find just one cause for an outbreak.
Is how we treat the planet to blame?
Yes! As the planet gets hotter, with more extreme weather, diseases are being found in new locations. We cannot ignore any impacts of climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change..
No! Diseases have existed for all of human history - long before we were talking of climate change. Sickness will always be with us.
FOR YOUR SUMMER READING CHALLENGE CLUE GO TO STEP SIX IN THE SIX STEPS TO DISCOVERY BELOW.
X
Previous
Keywords
Disease - An illness or sickness.
Democratic Republic of Congo - A country in central Africa with a population of 99 million.
Virus - A very small piece of material that causes disease.
World Health Organisation - The United Nations agency responsible for global public health.
Smallpox - A disease estimated to have killed 300 million people in the 20th Century.
Variant - A slightly different version.
Lyme disease - All illness caused by bacteria-carrying tick bites.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
Mpox virus sparks global health alert
Deadly: The highly contagious disease formerly known as monkeypox has been found in Sweden after killing at least 450 people during an initial outbreak in Africa. Glossary
Disease - An illness or sickness.
Democratic Republic of Congo - A country in central Africa with a population of 99 million.
Virus - A very small piece of material that causes disease.
World Health Organisation - The United Nations agency responsible for global public health.
Smallpox - A disease estimated to have killed 300 million people in the 20th Century.
Variant - A slightly different version.
Lyme disease - All illness caused by bacteria-carrying tick bites.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.