Climate Change May Spur Disease

The Annual Assembly of the World Health Organization talked about the effect of global warming on air and water borne illness.

The Geneva assembly said that global warming has already begun have an impact on water-born and parasitic illness in drought and flood prone areas, according to Reuters News (reuters.com).

The climate changes borough about by global warming encourage more disease carrying ticks and allow mosquito's to thrive in areas of Africa and Asia, according to health officials.

According to Reuters, Bettina Menne of European Division said that respiratory and heart problems may become more marked following heat wave and increased particulate matter such as dust in the air". Bettina Menne also noted that "allergy-causing pollen could be released earlier and last longer with warmer temperatures."

In northern Europe, the movement of ticks and small mites can spread Lyme disease.

In the developing world, outbreaks of cholera and malaria in the developing world were a result of environmental shifts affecting parasites and water sources, according to Bettina Menne.

Allergies are caused by a number of irritants, including airborne dust and pollens. Pollens are generated by trees, grass, plants and weeds. Airborne allergies are a major cause of illness and disability. Inhaling airborne allergens can product a number of different symptoms. Symptoms include asthma, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, allergic shiners, itching eyes, itching nose, itching throat, conjunctivitis, watering eyes, headaches, difficulty breathing, hives or a skin rash.

The overall warmer climates result in longer seasons of allergy causing pollens. The warmer temperature causes longer seasons of blowing pollen, causing allergy sufferers increased discomfort and illness.

Lyme disease is an infectious disease transmitted by particular ticks. The ticks are chiefly in the United States and Europe. Lyme disease affects the nervous system, heart, eye and joints. Lyme disease can be a very debilitating.