Nov
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admin
11/12/2008 9:20 AM
Climate change continues to change the way we live, this time being linked to human health and the spread of hantavirus, a disease linked to mice and other rodents.
Cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, an illness caused by hantaviruses, have increased in humans in typically cold places such as Russia and Eastern Europe. A probable cause is rodents infected with hantaviruses that are better able to survive milder winter conditions. By some estimates, one in three rodents carries the viruses.
There are five types of hantavirus, and it can be contracted through human contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings. Infection occurs when humans inhale particles of dried materials or urine. Early symptoms include fever, chills, muscle pain and coughing. The infection can be fatal.
In 2007, cases of hantavirus infections in Russia topped 3,000 by mid-spring, following a mild winter. The increase was attributed to a rodent population that was 10 times higher than in previous years.
The virus has also been found in 10 states in the United States since its identification in 1993. An outbreak in Southwestern states that year affected 48 people with a mortality rate of 80 percent.
Wet, mild winters are thought to contribute to the disease spread, turning environmental issues into public health threats. Rodents are better able to survive, natural food supplies are more abundant and consequently the population is growing.
Humans at greatest risk are those involved in agricultural production, grain or feedlot operations, field biology or other places where rodent contact is likely. One study also found that 70 percent of those infected were exposed while cleaning homes or buildings where rodents had been living. Controlling for rodents in and around the home is the best strategy for preventing infection.
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1 comments so far...
Re: Warmer temps linked to disease spread
Unified aciton on 'bioterrorism-pandemics-food spoilage' is required at local levels in form of 'biopreparedness executive team' and a 'local reflex action team' should be assembled at the 'Local Governing Council or Municipality levels'. That Council needs to be thorogughly powerful and politically strengthened to take action in protection of the biofuture of the community.
The Climate Change crisis along with rising costs of food along with health costs have put pressure on local community but that is the time of opportunity provided novel working models against the changes, are used.
We in India have evolved '9-Gram, 9-Ratna Model' to overcome these problems at multi-institutional levels.
Same could be used and there are number of interesting people who are getting ready to join hands in that kind of initiatives.
Of course, tackling of new and emerging diseases is a policy, programme and technology loaded issue, whcih requires commensurate local-global communication,collaboration etc
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Jag
By Dr Jagveer Rawat on
11/12/2008 10:02 AM
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