A growing body of research warns that climate change is driving the global spread of deadly fungi, posing a significant threat to human health. Rising temperatures are expanding the habitats of potentially lethal pathogens like Aspergillus, which infect millions of people each year and claim hundreds of thousands of lives annually.
The fungus family Aspergillus could expand its reach to more northerly regions in Europe, Asia, and the Americas, particularly if the world continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels. Two species of Aspergillus – A. fumigatus and A. flavus – are expected to spread further into new territories by 2100, exposing millions of people to infection.
Aspergillus is a stealthy menace that can cause life-threatening diseases like aspergillosis, which affects the lungs and brain. The species has brought benefits to humanity through its uses in industrial chemistry and fermentation, but it also poses significant health risks to those with weakened immune systems.
The World Health Organization has identified Aspergillus fumigatus as one of four critical fungal pathogens that pose the highest risk to human health. Climate change is not only expanding the range of these deadly fungi but also disrupting ecosystems where they play a vital role in recycling chemicals crucial to life.
Researchers are sounding the alarm about the growing threat of fungal diseases, particularly among vulnerable populations like those with asthma or cystic fibrosis. The development of anti-fungal medicines has been hindered by financial constraints, and climate change is likely to further exacerbate the spread of these deadly fungi.
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/506f5a03-8520-40e1-aee3-a6e6427f68c0