IPCC report warns of malaria outbreak in Himalayan region

IPCC report warns of malaria outbreak in Himalayan region

TOPIC: Environment

Context- The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its 6th assessment report on ‘Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’ online Monday.

Concept-

About the Report:

• Climate-driven extreme events will cause a significant increase in ill-health and premature deaths, the latest IPCC report has said.
• The report has further observed a shift in the distribution of malaria and dengue to higher altitude areas.
• In India, the IPCC has projected changes in the spatial distribution of malaria, warning of potential outbreaks in the Himalayan region, besides the southern and the eastern states.
• As temperatures rise, the number of months suitable for transmission of Malaria will grow, the report says, although in some areas transmission of the vector-borne disease will fall by the 2030s.
  • As temperatures become too hot in some lowland tropical areasfor the Malaria vector to thrive,
  • However, the report predicts an increase in diseases such as dengue and zika.
• In South and Southeast Asia, the report says, rising temperatures will also cause an adverse impact on availability and prices of food, leading to increased undernourishment.
  • Besides, mental health challenges, including anxiety and stress, will grow, affecting particularly the young and the elderly, and those with underlying conditions.
• In addition to all-cause mortality, deaths related to circulatory, respiratory, diabetic and infectious disease, as well as infant mortality are increased with high temperature.
• Increases in heavy rain and temperature will increase the risk of diarrheal diseases, dengue fever and malaria in tropical and subtropical Asia.
• The report finds the Spring pollen season start dates in northern mid-latitudes are occurring earlier due to climate change, increasing the risks of allergic respiratory diseases.
• Higher atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide reduce the nutritional quality of wheat, rice, and other major crops, “potentially affecting millions of people at a doubling of carbon dioxide.