Climate change has begun to affect human health in many ways.

One significant issue

that has become prevalent through media attention has been the increase of infectious diseases
due to significant changes in the global climate. While the appearance of infectious diseases in
third world countries typically go unnoticed here in the United States, the recent outbreak of
Ebola in Africa maintained national attention through ongoing media coverage.
The article I selected, Will climate change worsen Ebola outbreaks? discusses how
climate change has had an impact on the spread of the Ebola virus. The authors, Angela Fritz and
Jason Samenow believe that there is a significant link between Ebola outbreak and climate
change, but are careful to indicate that the connection is much more complex than simply a
change in temperature. They state that the earths temperature will continue to increase, and with
that dramatic precipitation extremes between periods of drought and heavy rainfall. The article
references a study published in the journal of Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing
that states sudden shifts in the levels of precipitation due to climate change have had a direct
association with Ebola outbreaks in tropical Africa between 1994 and 1996. The authors point to
this study that theorizes as the earths temperature continues to increase, areas which see
precipitation variability increases - with abrupt shifts from extremely dry to extremely wet
periods - would be most vulnerable to Ebola outbreaks. The article also points out that, the
interplay between climate change and deforestation potentially positions humans closer to
infected animals. The authors also refer to a NASA analysis of meteorologic satellite data that
shows, Ebola outbreaks correlate with heavy rains at the end of a period of intense aridity.
Just as in other less developed regions around the world, the African people are at the
mercy of mother nature. These extreme fluctuations in weather have put a strain on typical food
sources, creating the necessity to source food from less safe places. In the article Kristie Ebi, a

professor of global health at the University of Washington expressed her concern stating that,
We already know climate change is weakening crop yields...When theres high food insecurity,
how will people go about making sure that they have enough food for their families? When
there is a scarcity of typical food sources, Africans are resorting to eating bats and other animals
that have been infected with disease. Many of these animals are infected with the Ebola virus
which is then spread to humans through contact with the infected animal. Impoverished areas
that rely on these sources of meat are more likely to become infected by Ebola through animal to
human contact. Once a human is infected, the surrounding population is easily infected with the
deadly virus since they care for the sick and bury the dead themselves. Through direct contact
with the infected persons blood, vomit, or feces the virus is able to quickly spread from one host
to another.
Demonstrating the disparity between developed countries and the third world, a recent
report from The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggested, The most effective
vulnerability reduction measures for health in the near term are programs that implement and
improve basic public health measure such as...secure essential health care...increase capacity for
disaster preparedness and response, and alleviate poverty. While the IPCCs assessment is
correct, it is certainly out of touch with those in Africa who are simply struggling to find food
day to day. In this example it is clear how different populations will be affected differently by
these extremes in climate change. In western countries we arent as immediately affected by how
climate change impacts our food sources. We currently have the luxury of importing and
exporting with other countries to meet our needs. The authors also emphasize how U.S. health
officials believe that an Ebola outbreak, is not a risk in the United States since transmission of

Ebola to another person requires direct contact with the infected persons bodily fluids during the
period that they are contagious.
In this article the ecosyndemic interactions involved stems from the initial impacts on the
environment from developed countries that require deforestation and production of carbon
emissions. These actions among others have had a hand in changing the earths climate. As the
climate changed so did the extreme fluctuations in precipitation around the world. In Africa this
creates food scarcity which requires many living in impoverished regions to search for atypical
sources of food. The Ebola virus which resides in their animal hosts without harm is transferred
to human hosts through preparation and consumption of infected animals. In its new host, this
infectious disease has evolved and has the possibility of mutating when coupled with other
diseases. The key to the spread of this disease in relation to ecosyndemics is the social inequality
that forced the African people to look for other food sources due to food scarcity. Without the
food insecurity that many of these impoverished communities face it is possible that the Ebola
virus might not have been released into the human population.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/08/05/will-climatechange-worsen-ebola-outbreaks/