global health Flashcards
what is the expected annual health impact of climate change between 2030–2050?
~250,000 additional deaths/year from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhoea, and heat stress
which populations are most affected by climate change?
the poorest and most vulnerable
why is climate change called a ‘threat multiplier’?
it worsens existing health and social inequalities, undermining decades of progress
what is the One Health approach?
a strategy integrating human, animal, and environmental health to prevent and manage disease risks
what proportion of new infectious diseases are zoonotic?
around 60%
what are key drivers of zoonotic disease emergence?
habitat loss, animal trade, climate change, intensive farming, urbanisation
name 3 examples of zoonotic spillover diseases
Ebola, Zika, COVID-19
what is the goal of the One Health approach?
prevent zoonoses, improve food safety, reduce AMR, and protect biodiversity
why is AMR considered a One Health issue?
resistant bacteria can spread between humans, animals, food, and the environment
how can AMR spread from animals to humans?
through the food chain, direct contact, or environmental contamination
what bacteria are major causes of foodborne illness in humans?
Salmonella and Campylobacter
what is a common bacterial cause of UTIs and bloodstream infections?
E coli
how does intensive farming increase pandemic risk?
through antibiotic overuse, overcrowding, poor hygiene, and habitat destruction
what happens when cattle diets are changed unnaturally?
can lead to gene transfer and evolution of pathogens able to infect humans
why is global livestock trade a concern?
enables the international spread of zoonotic pathogens
how does climate change affect disease vectors?
warmer temperatures expand their habitats and increase their lifespan
what effect does climate change have on pathogen transmission?
alters host distribution and boosts pathogen loads in animals
which diseases are affected by vector expansion due to climate change?
Dengue, Malaria, Zika, West Nile virus
what kind of diseases are likely to rise due to changing rainfall and temperature?
waterborne and foodborne illnesses
what health problems are linked to extreme heat?
heatstroke, cardiovascular events, renal failure, asthma, poor pregnancy outcomes
who is most vulnerable to heat-related health effects?
elderly, pregnant women, children, people in low-resource settings
how does climate change affect mental health?
increases PTSD and anxiety after disasters like floods and wildfires
how does climate change affect food security?
disrupts crop yields and quality, leading to malnutrition and deficiencies
how can foodborne diseases spread?
at any point in the production and consumption chain, especially when hygiene is poor
