I found in the WEEK that it was reported in the Sunday Times last Sunday "exotic diseases are heading our way" (The WEEK 10th March 2012 page 14). I can't find the article on the internet so I will give you the gist of what it was saying; "climatologists' predict and influx of exotic diseases from warmer climes, with cattle farms experiencing infections of Schmallenberg virus, which causes stillbirths and deformities in young livestock. How long before illnesses that have reached Spain and Portugal get to us? Or human diseases such as malaria and encephalitis?" (The WEEK 10th March 2012 page 14).
So what are the issues we face here? Firstly, in terms of malaria risk, by having the Anopheles mosquitoes coming to Britain the risk of getting malaria does increase (not all mosquitoes cause malaria-only the female Anopheles). Malaria is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium (four main types; P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. falciparum) getting into the Anopheles mosquito through a blood meal that it takes from a person already with malaria. The mosquito then acts as a vector for the Plasmodium, which breaks into its salivary gland. When the mosquito takes another blood meal, the Plasmodium is passed directly into the human's (second host's) blood in the saliva from the mosquito. The parasite then invades the liver cells where they multiply, then escape out into the blood and the red blood cells where they continue to multiply and break out into more and more red blood cells. The cycle then continues. There are a number of ways of trying to prevent the transmission of malaria such as bed nets and sprays, but what biologists are hoping will be the best solution is the RTS,S vaccine that has been in development for the last 25 years.
Secondly, the other disease mentioned in the article was encephalitis; "inflammation of the brain usually caused by a viral infection" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm). There are a number of different viral infections that can cause encephalitis including "herpes simplex virus (the virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes), varicella zoster virus (the chickenpox virus), mumps virus, measles virus and flu viruses" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm). But in other areas of the world there are other ways of getting encephalitis such as through mosquitoes which is where this article is coming from in terms of increased risk with the change in climate. In the UK the most common cause through viral infection "is herpes simplex virus" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm). But not to worry because at the moment encephalitis is very uncommon, but just if you do get it get to hospital very quickly because "in many people, encephalitis is a serious condition and can be life-threatening" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm).
Personally I think that the risks are low and that for the time being we should not be worried about these exotic diseases coming to our country because we have the capability of dealing with them if we need to and the healthcare is good enough to aid us. The issue that needs to be addressed is that of malaria in other countries, we are a long way towards that goal with the RTS,S vaccine and the other solutions that we have developed.
Another interesting story; about Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and the effect that their current ingredients have on cancer http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17308181, and the warnings that they may have to put on their cans if they don't change their ingredients.
So what are the issues we face here? Firstly, in terms of malaria risk, by having the Anopheles mosquitoes coming to Britain the risk of getting malaria does increase (not all mosquitoes cause malaria-only the female Anopheles). Malaria is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium (four main types; P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. falciparum) getting into the Anopheles mosquito through a blood meal that it takes from a person already with malaria. The mosquito then acts as a vector for the Plasmodium, which breaks into its salivary gland. When the mosquito takes another blood meal, the Plasmodium is passed directly into the human's (second host's) blood in the saliva from the mosquito. The parasite then invades the liver cells where they multiply, then escape out into the blood and the red blood cells where they continue to multiply and break out into more and more red blood cells. The cycle then continues. There are a number of ways of trying to prevent the transmission of malaria such as bed nets and sprays, but what biologists are hoping will be the best solution is the RTS,S vaccine that has been in development for the last 25 years.
Secondly, the other disease mentioned in the article was encephalitis; "inflammation of the brain usually caused by a viral infection" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm). There are a number of different viral infections that can cause encephalitis including "herpes simplex virus (the virus that causes cold sores and genital herpes), varicella zoster virus (the chickenpox virus), mumps virus, measles virus and flu viruses" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm). But in other areas of the world there are other ways of getting encephalitis such as through mosquitoes which is where this article is coming from in terms of increased risk with the change in climate. In the UK the most common cause through viral infection "is herpes simplex virus" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm). But not to worry because at the moment encephalitis is very uncommon, but just if you do get it get to hospital very quickly because "in many people, encephalitis is a serious condition and can be life-threatening" (http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Encephalitis.htm).
Personally I think that the risks are low and that for the time being we should not be worried about these exotic diseases coming to our country because we have the capability of dealing with them if we need to and the healthcare is good enough to aid us. The issue that needs to be addressed is that of malaria in other countries, we are a long way towards that goal with the RTS,S vaccine and the other solutions that we have developed.
Another interesting story; about Coca-Cola and Pepsi, and the effect that their current ingredients have on cancer http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17308181, and the warnings that they may have to put on their cans if they don't change their ingredients.
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