A preprint study projects that three species of Aspergillus, a fungus that can cause severe lung and sinus infections, will expand their range in Europe as global temperatures rise due to climate change. A co-author on the study, which has not undergone peer review, stated that “changes in environmental factors, such as humidity and extreme weather events, will change habitats and drive fungal adaptation and spread.” Social media users responded to news coverage of the study by dismissing it as fearmongering and “fake news.” Several posts claimed that “there is no climate change” and argued that climate has nothing to do with disease.
Recommendation
Online conversations about climate and health provide communicators with an opportunity to explain how climate change influences the spread of infectious diseases. Messaging may emphasize that rising global temperatures and extreme weather events due to climate change may allow disease-causing bacteria, fungi, and viruses—and the animals that carry them—to expand into previously unaffected regions.
Fact-checking sources: GAVI, UC Davis Health
