A new study says that more than half a billion people are at risk from mosquito-transmitted diseases within 30 years because of the climate change.
Canada, parts of North Europe are the new entries to the list who could be exposed to the threat. It is said that people there could come into contact with yellow fever, Zika, dengue and chikungunya, as well as other emerging diseases.
The study mentions that humans could prevent the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes if they aggressively take actions to fight against global warming.
Sadie Ryan, a co-author from the University of Florida, said that the study and the maps it produced might help the policymakers and medical professionals understand where the bugs and their diseases might move.
Ryan also mentioned that places with hot weather conditions would be vulnerable to these diseases.
At present, a little more than six billion people are in the climatic conditions where the two mosquitoes - Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus - were studied almost live for a month or more each year. However, as the climate change pushes milder weather toward the poles, new areas and regions tend to become hospitable to mosquito-transmitted diseases.
The studies have shown that the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti flourishes in a warmer climate, whereas, the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus prefers cooler surroundings.
Hence, researchers say that it can therefore be easily determined that what different levels of rising temperatures would mean for the spread of both the mosquitoes. They also found that if the world only moderately stalls rising temperatures, then it is a possibility that both the mosquitoes might not multiply so quickly.
Ryan specifically said that places that have never had the diseases could now possibly see bad outbreaks if they are not prepared. In 2016, Zika affected Southern Florida, threatening pregnant women.
People who contract diseases from mosquitoes while traveling can return home and transmit them to local mosquitoes, spreading them further. An expanded range for mosquitoes could enhance that process.
To this, Ryan added that one might not think to look across the mid-west at this point for potential mosquitoes, but what if people are landing in Chicago? Every year United States witnesses some cases of malaria and dengue surfacing.
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