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.
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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.
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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.
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, scientists announced the first case of a new variantA slightly different version. 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. It can be deadly. The first human case we know about was in 1970 in the DRC.
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.
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.
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Keywords
Disease - An illness or sickness.
Democratic Republic of Congo - A country in central Africa with a population of 99 million.
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
Deadly: The first Clade 1b mpox patient is being treated at the specialist infectious diseases unit at London's Royal Free hospital. They had recently been on holiday to Africa and their close contacts are being traced. Glossary
Disease - An illness or sickness.
Democratic Republic of Congo - A country in central Africa with a population of 99 million.
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.