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Blame climate change for India's dengue outbreak?

all types of dengue 9

With more than 3,000 people across India been affected by dengue fever — a mosquito-borne virus common to the world’s tropical and subtropical areas – killing many, – the changing climate with temperatures and sea levels rising seem to have started having its impact on the Asians, risking them from infectious disease outbreaks! A climate change report released Monday predicted such effect of climate change.

Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss informed, ‘so far 47 people died of the disease while around 3,000 people have been affected’.

dengue fever in delhi 9
Photo courtesy: CNN-IBN

Called as ‘dengue hemorrhagic fever’ in its most severe form, dengue has originated as a disease of the rain forests. The dengue-causing virus called ‘zoonoses’ has its prominence in the rural outposts and undeveloped countries. For years it is having a outbreak in regions named as ‘Singapore hemorrhagic fever’, ‘Thai hemorrhagic fever’, ‘Philippine hemorrhagic fever’ But, recently it is also seen in regions, it had never been until now – in Texas! Is the killer virus crossing boundaries with the increase in the El Nino?

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Photo courtesy: Tribune India

It is only during the past two decades, it has been recorded that the dengue virus (zoonotic) outbreaks has risen steadily! The frightening part is that the researchers themselves admit that they cannot predict when or where the next will occur!

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Photo courtesy: BBC News

This virus is one of hundreds that have the potential to steal into the country and create a crisis of public health by passing between animals and humans. Then just imagine what will happen when the global temperatures will rise by up to 4 degrees?! The day is not far off! We may witness it; rather suffer it in less then 15 coming years! – i.e. by 2030, as predicted by Australia’s main research agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.

And, this temperature rise may happen particularly in the arid regions of northern Pakistan, India and China, and hence the infectious disease outbreaks. So, be aware!

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