Researchers have found microbes on Mount Everest that can survive harsh winds and conditions at some of the world’s highest elevations. The research comes at a time when scientists say melting glaciers and permafrost could reawaken viruses and bacteria as the climate warms.
Heat waves, floods, droughts, and rising temperatures fueled by climate change have made the world more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and the spread of a wide variety of pathogens — from bacteria and viruses to fungi and protozoa.
High volumes of glacial runoff are associated with greater opportunities for viruses to jump from one species to another, an analysis of genetic material from the Arctic shows.
Francesco Branda: Is climate change causing a resurgence in infectious diseases?
The clock is ticking to restore our relationship with nature to one that is mutually beneficial, not detrimental to our existence.