Climate change makes pathogens potent
The model of treatment is being evaluated only when there are waves of attacks
Rising temperature is a major reason for active state of pathogens and bacteria and now, with a compromised immune system, the human body’s response to an infection is not as expected.
A research study published in Ecology shows that off springs of pathogens produced under higher temperatures can cause higher rate of infection compared to those that are produced under lower temperatures.
Dr Suneetha Narreddy, Consultant for infectious diseases at Apollo Hospitals explained, “Rising temperature increase the severity of a disease. This means the pathogens will be more stronger than what was thought earlier from clinical experience.”
“Rising temperature is a concern as it is responsible for epidemics. There are many other related causes which we still do not know. It is one of the major contributing factors seeing the manner in which infectious diseases are spreading,” she added.
Human body already compromises to one attack and if the same conditions prevail, there is a chance for recovery but if the temperature is found to rise, as is being seen, then the ability of the body to recover is lost.
Dr K. Narsimulu, Professor of Internal Medicine explained: “Bacteria are able to gather faster and attack much faster under a favourable climate. So, when there are conditions in the surrounding environment for them to proliferate, then the attack turns stronger. Due to this reason, we find that in symptomatic treatments for infectious diseases, the surrounding environment for treatment has to be sterile. Isolation is also being required in severe cases as was noted during the Swine flu epidemic.”
The model of treatment is being evaluated only when there are waves of attacks and that is becoming a major challenge for the medical fraternity which has to deal with sudden outbreaks.
The outbreaks are also localised for a while and then, they are spreading from humans to humans which was recently seen in the case of Swine flu from 2015 to 2017.
While the Indian climate is found to adapt to the Michigan strain, the newer strains will have debilitating effect, according to experts.
The present computer based model, evaluated by the Scientists, requires further experimentation and more data would help to understand the impact of pathogens on crops, animals and also humans.