According to a recently published report by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), there will be an increased risk of infectious diseases in Germany in the future due to global warming. Due to the increasing heat in this country, pathogenic bacteria could multiply more easily and animals that can transmit infectious diseases spread.
When presenting the results, co-author Elke Hertig emphasized the major challenge. The report “Climate Change and Health” has been published under the direction of the RKI in the “Journal of Health Monitoring”. Two more volumes will be released later this year.
Numerous researchers contributed to the report, compiling current knowledge about the potential impacts of climate change on human health.
“Climate-sensitive pathogens on the rise”
The effects of the elevated temperatures on the distribution of some atypical animal species in Germany are already visible, explains co-author Klaus Stark. “New tick species are coming to Germany,” says the RKI epidemiologist. An example of this is the Hyalomma tick, which was only found in Germany a few years ago and can transmit bacterial pathogens of typhoid. “In recent years, there have been clear trends that some of the climate-sensitive pathogens have increased.”
The Asian tiger mosquito is also expected to become more common in Germany. This mosquito can transmit dengue, yellow fever or Zika virus pathogens to humans. “This does not mean that we will immediately have cases of transmission in Germany in the next one to two years,” Stark said. However, it cannot be ruled out.
Source: Krone
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