Jan 21 2009
Global Warming Plays a Role in European Viral Epidemic
Image by PiedPiper
A few days ago an article by Bob Ewing on Digital Journal reported that they have now linked a European viral epidemic to global warming. According to the article, nephropathia epidemica (NE) is:
…a relatively mild hemorrhagic fever that causes flu-like symptoms often with renal complications, sometimes also with pulmonary problems, needing Intensive Care treatment, such as acute dialysis and/or mechanical ventilation. In some rare cases it can, moreover, cause the shock with internal haemorrhaging and death for which these infections are infamous.
The hantavirus is the culprit for the epidemic and the bank voles are the accomplices. Apparently, the hotter summers and milder winters, effects of global warming, may have helped trees such as oak and beech to produce more seeds. As a result of the surplus in so-called food, the vole population increases dramatically, this in turn, creates a higher incidence of contact with humans. It’s not hard to guess what happened next. The infection is transferred from the vole to people who visit the forests more often due to warmer weather.
Currently, the epidemic has spread to Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Luxembourg. According to the research carried out at Belgium’s Rega Institute, in the last three years, 2005-2007, there was an increase of 37.6% in cases related to the viral disease.
Thanks, Bill, for stopping to comment and share your thoughts