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A new study finds climate events such as flooding, heatwaves and drought worsen more than half of the known diseases that infect people. These diseases include malaria（疟疾）, cholera（霍乱）and anthrax（炭疽）.

Researchers examined medical literature（文献）of established cases of such diseases. They found out that 218 out of the known 375 human infectious diseases seemed to be made worse by extreme weather connected to climate change. The study connected more than 1,000 pathways from climate events to sick people. In some cases, heavy rains and flooding sicken people through disease-carrying mosquitoes, rats and deer. Other events, like warming oceans and heatwaves, spoil seafood and droughts bring bats carrying viral（病毒性的）infections to people.

Medical doctors, going back to the days of ancient Greek civilization, have long connected disease to weather. But this study shows how widespread the influence of climate events is on human health. “Climate is changing, and the risk of these diseases is changing,” said Dr Jonathan Patz. “The findings of this study are terrifying and illustrate well the enormous consequences of climate change on human pathogens（病原体）. Humans need to all work together to prevent disasters from climate change.”

Camilo Mora, a climate data expert, said the study is not about predicting future cases. “These are things that have already happened,” he noted. Here’s one example Mora knows from his own experience. About five years ago, Mora’s home in rural Colombia was flooded, creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mora contracted Chikungunya, a virus spread by mosquito bites. He survived, but he still suffers pain related to the disease. In another case, the remains of a reindeer which died from anthrax were unearthed as the Siberian permafrost（永冻土）melted from warming in 2016. A child touched the dead animal, got anthrax, and an outbreak spread.

Dr Aaron Bernstein said the study is a good warning about climate and health for now and the future. He added, “But of course, it only reports on what we already know, and what’s yet unknown about pathogens may be yet more convincing about how preventing further climate change may prevent future disasters like COVID-19.”