Currently — August 10th, 2022

What you need to know, currently.

Over half of the infectious diseases known to impact humans can be aggravated by climate change, according to a new study in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Researchers found that illnesses like hepatitis, cholera and malaria, to name a few, are spreading faster and becoming more severe due to climate-related events as well as extreme weather, like droughts, wildfires, extreme precipitation and floods.

Climate hazards have also taken a toll on peoples’ bodies, leading to increased  stress from exposure, and forcing some to live in unsafe conditions with damaged infrastructure. This results in a lessened immunity to certain diseases and pathogens, the research concluded.

And it’s important to note, climate change affects people disproportionately, making it harder to fight these diseases if you lack  proper access to medical and health care.

— Aarohi Sheth