Implications of global warming on the emergence of zoonotic diseases

Global warming is caused by rising fossil fuel burning and land use changes which cause emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and methane. Combustion of fossil fuels and human activities has led to sharp increase in GHGs in the atmosphere. These climate changes are likely to have tremendous effect on the prevalence of zoonotic diseases. Approximately 60% of emerging human pathogens are zoonotic in nature. The changes in climate may provide favourable conditions for the propagation of insect vectors, prolongation of transmission period, reduction in generation time and importation of vectors or animal reservoirs. Further these changes may adversely affect biodiversity by disturbing the animal and microflora population which can lead to outbreaks of new emerging and reemerging zoonotic diseases. Global warming disrupts natural ecosystems by providing more suitable environments for infectious diseases allowing disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and fungi to move into new areas where they may harm wildlife & domestic species and humans. Climate variability affects the population dynamics of wild animals and these dynamics affect the transmission of diseases within the animal populations as well as the other animal populations or people.