Global warming could cause dengue fever to cross the Tropic of Cancer.
As the global greenhouse effect continues to expand, experts are concerned that dengue fever outbreaks may escalate in the future. If it develops into a cross-border, cross-regional, and cross-year epidemic, it could become uncontrollable. The world should respond as soon as possible and take preventive measures.
The first Taiwan-UK Young Scientists International Exchange Program held a three-day academic seminar in Taipei starting on the 18th, focusing on the global concern of "infectious and immune diseases." Given that dengue fever outbreaks occur in Taiwan on average once every ten years, coupled with the global greenhouse effect, Dr. Anderson, Director of Epidemiology at Imperial College London, warned: "The dengue fever epidemic may shift northward, which would be a major catastrophe for humanity."
Dr. Anderson, who will assume the presidency of Imperial College London this August, visited Taiwan during the SARS outbreak to assist in controlling the epidemic. He pointed out that the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which inhabits a relatively warm environment, typically lives between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer, rarely crossing the Tropic of Cancer. However, due to the greenhouse effect and rising global temperatures, Aedes aegypti mosquitoes may cross the Tropic of Cancer, causing the dengue fever epidemic to spread northward.
The problem is that with global warming in recent years, if temperatures continue to rise, disease-carrying mosquitoes will roam year-round, spreading across years and regions, and epidemics will become uncontrollable.
問題是，近年全球暖化，如果氣溫持續上升，病媒蚊將終年流竄，跨年跨區流行，疫情將一發不可收拾。
Dr. Anderson emphasized that countries must establish real-time video surveillance systems to comprehensively control global epidemics such as dengue fever and avian influenza. Hsieh Shih-liang reminded the public to practice good environmental hygiene to reduce mosquito breeding. The medical community is also currently developing treatments for hemorrhagic dengue fever to comprehensively prevent dengue outbreaks from escalating.
Updated date:2008/03/19 04:33
Chang Tsui-fen reports from Taipei.
