Could this story recently (see below) about the increase spread of Lyme Disease be related to Climate Change? Rise in Lyme disease expected in the Rochester area | Democrat and Chronicle
If you say, ‘no’, you are probably wrong. If you say, “It cannot be proved that Climate Change is responsible for the present spread in Lyme Disease in our Rochester, NY region, you are probably right.
So, what is the answer and why does it matter? For one, Lyme disease is a growing threat to our area’s public health; check CDC - Lyme Disease - NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
For another, trying to determine whether or not a disease like Lyme disease is spreading because of Climate Change is not an issue one can decide the answer to by checking the Internet or your favorite social media. To find out the answer to this critical question one needs to find a recent study that has focused on this issue. That will require funding of some sort. It will also require that your public health officials and government not be prejudiced against the prevailing scientific judgment that Climate Change is happening and happening quickly and will probably be responsible for the spreading of diseases due to the increased length of time vectors (carriers, in this case insects) of disease will be able to survive in warmer weather.
All this matters because Climate Change is going to affect public health in a variety of ways, which means your health will change, you medical insurance will change, and a lot more. Check the possible predictions of Climate Change for our region: Possible Climate Change scenarios of the Rochester, NY region.
BTW: This story Ash borers are here to stay | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com is also pertinent to this discussion on Climate Change because the most probable reason we have an infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer is because this invasive species is able to better winter our winters because our winters aren’t as cold as they used to be—because of Climate Change. Warmer winters mean insects that carry malaria and other disease can now survive our winters.
Climate Change is coming to Rochester, NY and it would be useful for our local news to report on items related to Climate Change continually. Without continual connecting of the dots, the public will be able to entertain the delusion that our region won’t be seriously affected by Climate Change. Local news must reflect the most important issue of our century: Climate Change. By the time the public does ‘get it’ on Climate Change it will be too late to adapt, as tipping points are coming.
Check out this story that does explain the possible connection with Climate Change and certain diseases.
The Season Of Ticks: Could Climate Change Worsen Lyme Disease? "ScienceDaily (Apr. 27, 2009) — In a finding that suggests how global warming could impact infectious disease, scientists from Yale University, in collaboration with other institutions, have determined that climate impacts the severity of Lyme Disease by influencing the feeding patterns of deer ticks that carry and transmit it." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology
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