The “2024 Countdown Report”, which included data on the health effects of climate change and appeared in the Lancet medical journal, caused concern. Latest indicators have revealed that health threats have peaked in almost all countries, and that extremely hot weather and unpredictable climate events will trigger diseases. While the report in question was published to evaluate the effects of climate on health after the Paris Agreement came into force; The report also included striking data about Turkey on climate change and health. The report underlined that Turkey was exposed to a heat wave for 21.9 days and 471 million working hours were lost due to global warming, and the potential income loss due to the decrease in workforce capacity was calculated as 846 million US dollars. Again, according to the report, 51 thousand deaths in Turkey in 2021 occurred due to human-induced air pollution (PM2.5).
IT CARRIES VIRUS
The report, which also lists risks related to infectious diseases, included the following striking findings: “Between 2014 and 2024, 61 percent of the global land area saw an increase in the number of days of extreme precipitation. This increases the risk of floods, the spread of infectious diseases and water pollution. It is hotter and drier.” Weather conditions favor the formation of sand and dust storms.The hunting and environmental event resulted in an increase in the number of people exposed to dangerously high concentrations of particulate matter. Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures favor deadly infectious diseases such as dengue fever, malaria, ‘West Nile virus’-related disease and ‘vibriiosis’. “It puts people in places that have not previously been affected by these viruses at risk of infection.”
DANG AND ZIKA WARNING
The following data were included in the report, which conveyed the environmental suitability status regarding climate-sensitive infectious diseases: “Climatic suitability for the transmission of dengue fever has increased by 46.3 percent. In the last twenty years, the global burden of dengue fever has increased, driven by more suitable climatic conditions, increased human mobility and urbanization.” had risen sharply. More than 5 million cases of dengue fever have been reported worldwide in 2024. Transmission is largely driven by the ‘Aedes’ mosquito. “Similar trends were observed for the transmission suitability of ‘chikungunya’ and ‘Zika’ viruses.”
DEADLY MALARIA
The report included the following information about parasites and viruses that may cause an epidemic: “Between 2014 and 2024, 17.1 percent of the global land area became suitable for the transmission of ‘Plasmodium falciparum’ (the deadly parasite that causes malaria). Again.” “During the same period, 21.8% of the world was exposed to the effects of ‘Plasmodium vivax’ (less severe and rarely fatal malaria).”
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