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The Climate Question Podcast
Could climate change fuel an epidemic?

Could climate change fuel an epidemic?

The Climate Question vor 2 Monaten

Are rising temperatures and deforestation leading to outbreaks of deadly disease?

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26:28

Scientists are warning that climate change and deforestation
increase the risk of outbreaks of deadly diseases. How big is the
danger? And what action can we take?

Dr Neil Vora is a so-called “disease doctor” - an epidemiologist
who has travelled the world to help trace the sources of
outbreaks of Ebola, cow pox and rabies.

Dr Vora tells The Climate Question hosts Graihagh Jackson and
Jordan Dunbar about his specialism in zoonotic diseases, which
are caused by infections passing from animals to humans. He is
worried that the combination of climate change and cutting down
forests will lead to more human-animal contact, and that the
higher stress levels experienced by animals such as bats and
monkeys will make them more likely to pass on deadly pathogens.

Dr Vora says we need to act now to protect forests and avoid the
possibility of epidemics or even a pandemic.

Neil Vora started his career at the US Centres For Diseases
Control and Prevention. He is now Executive Director at the
Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition.

Got a question for The Climate Question? Email us:
theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producers: Diane Richardson, Jordan Dunbar and Melanie
Stewart-Smith Sound Mix: Dafydd Evans and Tom Brignell Editor:
Simon Watts