Impact of Climate Change on Livestock, Human, and Wildlife Diseases
Climate change has profound implications for the health of livestock, humans, and wildlife, primarily through its influence on the distribution, prevalence, and severity of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Here is an overview of its impacts: 1. Impact on Livestock Diseases a. Vector-Borne Diseases Expansion of Vectors : Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns allow disease vectors like ticks, mosquitoes, and midges to expand into new regions, spreading diseases such as: Bluetongue : Transmitted by midges, now occurring in previously unaffected temperate zones. Rift Valley Fever : Linked to heavy rainfall and flooding. Tick-Borne Diseases : Such as babesiosis and anaplasmosis. b. Environmental Stress Heat stress reduces livestock immunity, making them more susceptible to diseases such as mastitis and respiratory illnesses. Changes in water availability and quality can lead to outbreaks of diseases like anthrax, which thrives in drought-prone areas when dormant sp