Climate Change and Disease

1. Traveling Bugs 🦟Bugs:

Like mosquitoes and ticks love warm weather. Usually, they stay in hot, tropical places. But because the Earth is getting warmer, these bugs are "moving house" to places that used to be too cold for them. When these bugs move to new neighborhoods, they bring germs with them (like Dengue fever or Lyme disease). Due to this People who never had to worry about these bugs before are now getting itchy bites and getting sick.

2. The "Water Yo-Yo"

Climate change makes the weather go back and forth like a yo-yo. Sometimes there is way too much rain (floods), and sometimes there is no rain at all (droughts).

When Floods mix dirty sewer water with the clean water we drink. This can give people tummy aches or worse. And When ponds dry up (Too little water), the little bit of water left gets very gross and stagnant. Germs love to grow in that warm, still water.

3. The Giant Freezer is Melting

In very cold places like the Arctic, the ground has been frozen solid for thousands of years. It’s like a giant natural freezer! Inside that freezer, some old germs and viruses have been "sleeping."

Now that the Earth is warmer, that freezer is melting. Because of that Some of those old germs are waking up. It's not a movie—it's real life! Luckily, scientists are watching closely to make sure we stay safe.

4. Weak Super-Foods and Big Heat

The air around us has something called CO_2. Plants breathe it in. But too much of it is like giving a plant too much "junk food."

Plants like rice and wheat are growing faster, but they have fewer vitamins and minerals (like iron) inside them. This means our food doesn't give us as much "super-power" as it used to. When it gets extra hot outside, it's hard for our hearts to keep us cool. This makes people feel very tired or dizzy.

5. The "Sneeze Season" is Getting Longer

Have you ever noticed that some people sneeze a lot in the springtime? That is usually because of pollen from flowers and trees.

Because the Earth is warmer, spring starts earlier and fall stays warm longer. This gives plants more time to grow and pump out pollen. "Sneeze season" (allergies) used to be just a few weeks, but now it can last for months! It also makes it harder for us with asthma to breathe clearly.

7. Animals Moving Into Town

Animals like bats, monkeys, and birds are losing their forest homes because of climate change. When their homes disappear, they move closer to where people live to find food.

Animals sometimes carry germs that don't make them sick, but can make humans very sick. Because animals and people are living closer together now, it is easier for a "forest germ" to jump over to a human. This is how new sicknesses often start.

Conclusion:

It is clear that the Earth and our bodies are like best friends. When the Earth feels sick and "feverish," we start to feel it, too. From traveling bugs and sneezing seasons to melting ice and smoky skies, climate change is changing the rules of how we stay healthy.

The best way to help ourselves is to help the planet. Every time we save energy, plant a tree, or protect nature, we are helping the Earth’s "fever" go down. When the planet is cool and happy, we can be happy and healthy, too!