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Climate And Cholera
London, UK (SPX) Apr 02, 2008 Cholera outbreaks may soon be predicted using satellite sensors, paving the way for preemptive medicine in countries that suffer epidemics, says Distinguished University Professor Rita Colwell, speaking today (Wednesday 2 April 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting being held this week at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The cholera Vibrio lives in zooplankton and can be found in bays, estuaries and rivers in temperate and tropical regions. "Scientists have established a definable relationship between sea surface temperature, sea surface height and cholera epidemics," says Professor Colwell, from the University of Maryland, US. "We can predict cholera epidemics by monitoring these factors using satellite sensors." "Cholera has afflicted humankind over the ages and remains a serious problem for the developing world," says Professor Colwell. "If the global effects of climate change are to be understood fully, we need to think about the human health aspect." Professor Colwell's work is leading toward a predictive model that will provide forecasting of climatic conditions associated with specific infectious diseases, offering predictions of epidemics. "A pre-emptive medicine may be possible for countries of the world suffering cholera epidemics," says Professor Colwell. "The issues are international and require a global scientific enterprise. The ultimate objective is an holistic understanding of the consequences of global warming and development of policies to address them." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Society for General Microbiology Epidemics on Earth - Bird Flu, HIV/AIDS, Ebola
Community-Acquired MRSA Spreads
London, UK (SPX) Apr 02, 2008Drug resistant hospital superbugs like MRSA have been kept under control in Denmark for more than 30 years. But the latest reports say that in the last 10 years MRSA cases have risen 10 times as new strains of bacteria with resistance genes spread through the community, scientists heard today (Tuesday 1 April 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's 162nd meeting being held this week at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. |
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