United States: According to a recent assessment, brain diseases like multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s complaint, migraines, strokes, and epilepsy are prognosticated to worsen as a result of climate change.

Neurological Conditions

Experimenters have reported in The Lancet Neurology journal that a variety of neurological conditions could be significantly impacted by a changing terrain. This information was published on May 15.

Lead experimenter Sanjay Sisodiya, a professor at the University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, stated,” There’s clear substantiation for an impact of the climate on some brain conditions, especially stroke and infections of the nervous system.”

The review’s data analysis involved examining 332 papers that were published between 1968 and 2023.

Neurological Effects

“The extremes of temperature [both high and low], and greater temperature variation throughout the course of the day — especially when these measures were seasonally unusual— were the climatic variation that was shown to have an effect on brain diseases,” Sisodiya stated in a university news release.

Heat Waves and Strokes

Researchers observed a rise in strokes on days with high temperatures or during heat waves.

In the meantime, those suffering from dementia were more vulnerable to weather-related illnesses like hypothermia or heat stroke, as well as to natural disasters like flooding and wildfires.

The study team stated that “a diminished capacity to seek help or to mitigate potential harm, such as by drinking more in hot weather or by adjusting clothing, is combined with a diminished awareness of risk.” “Therefore, higher mortality and hospital admissions related to dementia are associated with increased temperature variance, hotter days, and heatwaves.”

Dementia Vulnerability to Weather

According to studies, there is a correlation between the likelihood of various mental health illnesses and high temperatures, daily temperature variations, or extreme heat and cold.

Temperature Variations

Since greater temperatures during the night can interfere with sleep, night time temperatures may be especially significant. “Many brain conditions have been known to worsen as a result of poor sleep,” Sisodiya stated.

The scientists observed that since environmental elements in earlier studies may not have gotten severe enough to damage people’s brains, more recent research is expected to discover more connections between climate change and brain diseases.

In order to produce knowledge that is helpful to both individuals and organizations, this activity must continue to be flexible and dynamic in the face of a concerning deterioration of the climate, according to Sisodiya. Furthermore, it is difficult to prepare ahead because there are few studies assessing the health effects of brain illnesses under future climate scenarios.

United States: Recent reports to the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that there are three new cases of Respiratory Pattern (MERS) coronavirus. These cases passed between April 10 and April 17, with one performing in a casualty.

Risk Factors and Transmission

All of the three affected people were men aged between 56 and 60 and had some medical history, though it only affects the people who are already dealing with some kind of health issues. Interestingly, none of them worked in healthcare. With two fatalities, the total number of MERS cases reported in 2024 has now reached four.

MERS is caused by a subtype of coronavirus known as MERS-CoV, as explained by Dr. Syed Abdul Aleem, a Pulmonology Consultant.

How can you determine whether you could get it?

MERS- CoV is classified as zoonotic because it can spread from creatures to people.

According to Dr. Aleem, some people may be more susceptible to getting MERS- CoV, especially if they’ve frequent contact with camels or live in an area where the contagion is aboriginal.

“In the event that they contract MERS- CoV, people with underpinning medical conditions like diabetes, habitual lung complaint, or immunocompromised individualities may also be more vulnerable to a severe illness.” nevertheless, he noted that mortal- to- mortal transmission of MERS- CoV is rare and that the contagion generally spreads from camels to humans, in discrepancy to COVID- 19, which is largely contagious.

What distinguishes the usual strain of COVID from MERS?

There are other ways in which MERS-CoV differs from the standard strain of COVID-19 (produced by SARS-CoV-2).

Dr. Aleem clarified that although MERS and COVID-19 are both coronaviruses that can cause respiratory illnesses, MERS tends to be more severe and has a greater death rate, but it is less communicable.

There is continuous virus transmission among camels in the area, and camels are thought to be the main source of MERS-CoV infection in people. Furthermore, Dr. Aleem said that the virus’s potential genetic alterations as well as cultural customs requiring intimate contact with camels and the growth of the camel trade could all be contributing causes to its reappearance.

Which symptoms and indicators are present?

MERS symptoms are commonly which includes fever, coughing, and dyspnea, are very much relatable to Covid. Dr. Aleem cautioned, though, that a MERS-CoV infection has the potential to make them even worse and cause pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

He said that some people can also have gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea. “The mortality rate is higher and the symptoms are generally more severe than with regular COVID-19.”

How is it going to be handled?

In order to manage a MERS-CoV infection, supportive treatment is necessary to reduce symptoms. According to Dr. Aleem, hospitalization and supportive treatments like mechanical ventilation and additional oxygen therapy can be necessary for patients with serious illnesses.

While investigational medications and treatments may be employed in certain circumstances, there is presently no particular antiviral treatment for MERS. Preventative strategies include keeping your hands clean, avoiding direct contact with camels, and avoiding sick people.