Climate change could wreak havoc on the health of British people in coming decades, with experts warning of rising food poisoning, allergies and the arrival of diseases such as Zika and dengue fever.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a warning over the effects of climate change saying, “It threatens the essential ingredients of good health – clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply and safe shelter – and has the potential to undermine decades of progress in global health.”
Yahoo News spoke to Marisa Miraldo, professor in health economics at Imperial College Business School, who said that climate change increases the risk of disease, as well as worsening existing health issues.
Reports by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have suggested that climate change could lead to up to 10,000 more deaths per year by 2050 due to effects on everything from food poisoning to allergies.
Professor Miraldo said that the impact on people’s health in Britain could be “significant”.”Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns expand the range of disease-carrying vectors, increasing the prevalence of infectious disease,” she explained.
“Extreme weather events like heatwaves, and cold waves not only worsen respiratory and cardiovascular conditions but also create unpredictable healthcare demand, overwhelming emergency services and disrupting routine care.”
New diseases
As the UK warms, mosquito-borne viruses such as chikungunya virus, dengue fever and Zika could become transmissible in London and other areas, the UKHSA has warned.
Many diseases that affect people are highly climate sensitive, and a relatively small change in temperature can mean new illnesses could spread in Britain.
The UKHSA said: “Many infectious diseases are highly climate sensitive, and with warmer temperatures we can expect an increased risk of new and emerging infectious diseases in the UK, including those transmitted through mosquito and tick bites.
This risks widening health inequality, with poorer people likely to be more affected, the agency added.
Prof Miraldo said: “Even high-income countries face rising healthcare costs and system strain, affecting particularly underserved and minority communities, as they respond to heat-related illnesses, mental health crises, and the emergence of vector-borne diseases.”
More food poisoning
Food poisoning bugs thrive in warmer weather, and cases of food poisoning linked to warm weather are already rising, according to a Department of Health report.
Food poisoning bugs thrive in warmer weather. (Getty)
By 2050, there are likely to be 10,000 more food poisoning cases per year, the report found.
The effects of climate change are likely to be “cascading”, Prof Miraldo warned, with effects on everything from existing conditions to the food we eat.
More kidney problems
Climate change (and heatwaves in particular) are forecast to have wide-ranging effects on human health, such as increases in kidney stones due to dehydration.
Kidney stone disease is a painful condition caused by hard deposits of minerals that develop in concentrated urine and cause pain when passing through the urinary tract.
The incidence of the condition has increased in the last 20 years. As the world warms due to climate change, more of us will suffer from kidney stones due to hot temperatures and dehydration, new research has shown.
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The impact of climate change will be felt particularly by older people, particularly those with existing health problems, Prof Miraldo said.
“Climate pressures intersect with the growing challenge of multi-morbidity – where individuals suffer from multiple chronic conditions – which is further exacerbated by climate impacts such as heat stress, air pollution, and food insecurity.”
Heart problems
US research in the journal Circulation suggested that cardiovascular deaths could more than double by 2050 due to climate change.
A combination of rising heat and climate-related effects such as air pollution will see deaths surge – and factors such as access to tree cover could mean it affects poorer people more.
Prof Miraldo said: “Vulnerable populations, including those in low-income countries and marginalized communities, are disproportionately affected, with limited access to resources to cope with these cascading health challenges. Climate change not only increases global disease burden but also widens health inequalities, creating complex, multidimensional challenges for healthcare systems worldwide.“