IPCC report warns of malaria outbreak in Himalayan region
- March 2, 2022
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
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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.