Is how we treat the planet to blame? The first case of a new strain of mpox has been found in the UK. Some think climate change is one of the causes.
Mpox virus sparks global health alert
Is how we treat the planet to blame? The first case of a new strain of mpox has been found in the UK. Some think climate change is one of the causes.
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 42,000 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 13 neighbouring countries.
In August, the World Health OrganisationThe United Nations agency responsible for global public health. (WHO) called mpox a public health emergency. And on Wednesday night, the first case of a new variantA slightly different version. was found in the UK, although the risk to the UK population remains low.
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 variant 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.
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.
Variant - A slightly different version.
Smallpox - A disease estimated to have killed 300 million people in the 20th Century.
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

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.
Variant - A slightly different version.
Smallpox - A disease estimated to have killed 300 million people in the 20th Century.
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.