Climate Change
Why Climate Change Is One Of The Greatest Threats To Human Health-Expert
The tuberculosis pandemic will become that much more of a threat.
Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, and health professionals worldwide are already responding to the health harms caused by this unfolding crisis.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says It is already impacting health in a myriad of ways, with the rise in extreme climatic events inducing population displacement resulting in a greater number of vulnerable and risk populations of tuberculosis.
It creates a conducive environment for tuberculosis transmission and development of active tuberculosis and disrupts tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services.
“As climate change exacerbates these problems, the tuberculosis pandemic will become that much more of a threat.
As a climate-sensitive disease, tuberculosis is directly and indirectly impacted by a changing climate: directly by requiring migration of populations and disrupting access to health care, impacting socio-economic conditions and food security with associated malnutrition, and increasing poverty and overcrowded living conditions.
Indirectly because of its related effects on other diseases equally impacted that are risk factors for tuberculosis like diabetes or HIV.
Consequently, the climate crisis not only contributes to the spread of tuberculosis, but it also lowers favourable outcomes for patients,” said Dr Maria Beumont, MD, Chief Medical Officer, TB Alliance.