Uncovering the Link Between Extreme Weather and Deadly Disease

Meet the scientists uncovering the link between extreme weather patterns spurred by climate change and disease outbreak—and how they plan to prevent the next global pandemic. We created this video in partnership with Freethink for Rethinking Possible, a collection of real stories developed by Skoll Foundation and brought to life by Freethink.

What’s the key to stopping the spread of diseases early in their tracks? In India, scientists are exploring how environmental surveillance can help protect vulnerable populations against emerging diseases, the risks of which have been increasing along with climate change.

One such strategy is wastewater monitoring, which tests sewage for pathogens so scientists can track illnesses in real-time before symptoms spread across communities. With the long-term goal of scaling their approach in major cities across India and beyond, the team aims to demonstrate how monitoring for a variety of climate-related risks that can leave traces in wastewater—from diarrhea to typhoid—can keep people healthy.

“To achieve health outcomes for all, one needs to be able to catch those risks earlier,” said Dr. Angela Chaudhuri.

For more stories from Skoll and Freethink, visit the Rethinking Possible hub.

Source: Freethink.com