Introduction: Give a brief context of the question. Body: How does habitat loss & climate change increase the risk of diseases transferring from animals to humans? Conclusion: Way forward |
Recently, IPCC in its latest report cautioned against the rise of infectious diseases due to the worsening effect of climate change. It gave the example of the periodicity of mosquito-borne disease outbreaks which no longer follows the traditional pattern of outbreak. This cycle is disrupted due to changes in temperature, precipitation, and humidity.
How does habitat loss & climate change increase the risk of diseases?
- Increase human-wildlife contact: Habitat loss forces disease-carrying animals to encroach upon human territory, increasing the risk of human-animal interaction and the transfer of pathogens from wildlife to humans. Eg Nipah outbreak in Kerala, HIV is believed to have originated from the transmission of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) from chimpanzees to humans.
- Disturbed Migration pattern: Rising temperatures can affect the migration patterns of animals & force them to come into contact with new animal populations and potentially transmit diseases. E.g., spread of avian influenza (bird flu).
- Vector-borne diseases: Altered climatic conditions can affect the distribution and behaviour of disease vectors (e.g., mosquitoes and ticks) increasing the transmission risk of malaria in regions previously unaffected, and exposing more human populations to the disease.
- Disrupt Agriculture: Climate-induced changes in precipitation and temperature can disrupt agriculture and force people to encroach upon wildlife habitats for sustenance, increasing human-wildlife contact. Eg, In parts of Africa, reduced crop yields due to climate change have led to an increased reliance on bushmeat hunting, increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases like Ebola being transmitted from wildlife to humans.
- Weakened Healthcare Systems: Extreme weather events can damage infrastructure, disrupt healthcare systems, and hinder responses to disease outbreaks. Example: Hurricane Katrina in 2005 compromised healthcare services in New Orleans, making it more difficult to respond to health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks.
Conclusion
To combat climate change-induced diseases effectively, India should adopt a “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, plant, and environmental health. This strategy requires enhanced collaboration between the central and state governments and their specialized agencies. Key sectors, including animal husbandry, forestry, municipal corporations, and public health departments, must work together to establish strong surveillance systems to prevent outbreaks.