Global Warming - Dengue Fever - Essay Example

Introduction Humankind faces many threats from global warming. One of these threats is the increase in the incidence of infectious diseases. There are already indications of these threats turning into reality. Dengue fever transmitted by mosquitoes is already on the rise (Knowlton, Solomon & Rotkin-Ellman, 2009). Global Warming will assist the spread of dengue fever into new territories. Impact of Global Warming on the Spread of Dengue Fever Dengue fever is an infectious disease that is spread by mosquitoes.

There is the risk of deadly complications in the form of dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome resulting from dengue fever. While increasing urbanization and growth in the population do contribute to the spread of mosquito-borne infectious disease, it is feared that global warming will result in the spread of dengue fever to unprecedented levels (Knowlton, Solomon & Rotkin-Ellman, 2009).Global warming will result in more areas becoming warmer and moister, which are conditions that encourage mosquitoes to thrive and flourish (Chiras, 2007).

There are clear indications of this spread of mosquitoes to new territories, where they were not found earlier, carrying infectious diseases spread by them into these new territories. Findings from studies conducted in Africa show that malaria has spread into higher altitudes, while findings from studies conducted in Mexico and Costa Rica show a similar spread of dengue fever (Chiras, 2007). It is not just the higher altitudes that are witnessing the spread of dengue fever. Higher altitudes are also facing the same threat. In the U.S.A. the threat of dengue fever was limited to the areas bordering Mexico.

However, analysis shows that the threat of dengue fever has become a reality across 28 states in the U.S.A., as the type of mosquitoes capable of transmitting dengue fever has established themselves in these states (Knowlton, Solomon & Rotkin-Ellman, 2009).