‘Habitat destruction brings us zoonoses to mental health issues’

News: The article talks about the research and the reason behind the increase in infectious and other diseases because of human activities.

What are the problems associated with human actions?

Climate Change: Up to one billion people are at risk of undernutrition because of climate change disruptions of seafood globally. Many countries in the Global South, from sub-Saharan Africa to South Asia and the Pacific Islands, are experiencing enormous climate burdens. They do not have adequate infrastructure to mitigate the associate challenges.

Deforestation: It is bringing people in closer proximity to the wildlife. It led to an increased possibility of zoonotic diseases and pathogens being transmitted from animals to humans. For example, Nipah Virus transmitted from fruit bats. These bats live far from human populations. But with the expansion of human settlement, farms, and livestock areas, they come into closer proximity to wildlife, and they get exposed to viruses generated from pathogens.

Another research from Brazil shows that deforestation and habitat fragmentation lead to a greater risk of malarial transmission.

Mental Health Trauma: Researchers are studying to which extent people are suffering from mental trauma due to environmental change. Solastalgia is a form of anxiety, worry and depression, that arises from the experience of losing connection to the surrounding environment, because of its degradation.

What should be done to solve the problems?

People should be aware that conservation, habitat restoration, and ecological preservation are key to human health.

Source: This post is based on the article “‘Habitat destruction brings us zoonoses to mental health issues’” published in Times of India on 19th February 2022.