Will global warming result in plagues and pandemics?

[Target_For_Exterm]

I was reading this article that says it will:

"BAMAKO (Reuters) - Bird flu may be the tip of the iceberg. Experts meeting in Mali say the deadly H5N1 virus is just one of a plethora of diseases threatening animals and people around the world as global warming, intensive farming, increased travel and trade help dangerous microbes breed and spread.

" Avian flu is just one of many diseases that are impacting the continent (of Africa). The experts are telling us that other diseases are going to emerge or re-emerge," said Francois Le Gall, the World Bank's lead livestock specialist for Africa.

"Almost every year there is a new disease appearing, and 75 percent of these emerging or re-emerging diseases are coming from animals; 80 percent of those have zoonotic potential," he said in an interview.

Le Gall said such zoonoses -- animal diseases that humans can also catch -- included Rift Valley fever, rabies and anthrax."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061208/hl_nm/birdflu_summit_diseases_dc

There's also the drug resistant bugs to worry about, like the "new" tuberculosis. Add in stress on humans because of the problems global warming is causing to the food chain, and humans could be in bad shape in years to come. If we survive at all.

[dysfunctional press]

1. well, duh...

as the temperatures warm, and sea levels rise, there's sure to be lots of new diseases, and old ones in places they never used to be. case in point- west nile virus.

it's going to get UGLY.

[sutz12]

2. IMO, it's already happening...

More delay just makes it worse.

[kestrel91316]

3. Gee, I dunno. Ask the pine trees up north and here in SoCal if they are having any

pine bark beetle issues.

[Target_For_Exterm]

4. Here in Utah, too.

My firewood comes from all the dead trees culled close to forest roads. :(

[jwirr]

6. What about Dutch Elm disease?

[kestrel91316]

7. Not the same. The vector for DED was IMPORTED about

100 years ago. The pine beetle is a native species, but the trees are weakened by drought (climate change) and then when the beetles attack there is not enough sap to keep them at bay, and then I think a fungus moves in for the kill.

[Uncle Joe]

5. The short answer to your question is yes n/t