Dengue fever affects record numbers of people across the globe.
Rising temperatures and extreme precipitation are being linked to the recent and dramatic rise of the disease, as noted by the World Health Organization, which has stated that 2.5 billion people are currently at risk.
The mosquito-borne virus, which has no effective treatment, produces flu-like symptoms with at least one strain that can be lethal.

Experts are also cautioning of climate change’s aggravating effect, as indicated by Dr. Ted Schettler , science director for the US-based Science and Environmental Health Network.

Dr. Ted Schettler – Science Director, Science & Environment Health Network (M): Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease which is also a tropical and sub-tropical disease but its range seems to be spreading, and not just because of international travel, but because a change in climate is supporting of the vector in areas where it didn’t used to be.
There was also recently reported a particularly sharp increase in dengue fever, for example, in Puerto Rico. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control just wrote about that as well, noting that this year’s outbreak is happening much earlier than it typically does and is much more severe, and so they themselves are wondering whether that change in pattern might be due to climate change.

VOICE: The highest number of reported dengue cases this year have been in Indonesia with over 80,000 as of August, followed by Thailand with nearly 78,000 by the end of September. Âu Lạc (Vietnam), Laos, Nepal,Formosa (Taiwan), southern China, and the Philippines have also noted higher numbers, with Malaysia also seeing a 53% increase in incidence this year, and India reporting the highest numbers in two decades.

In the Philippines, cases as of mid-September were already double those of 2009 with more than 500 people who have perished this year. Meanwhile, and health officials in Central American Guatemala say that the mosquitoes now live all year long, not just in winter as before. Europe has even been hit by the disease, with
a first case appearing in southern France this year.

We are saddened to know of the thousands affected by this potentially deadly virus that is spreading with climate change. May our planet-cooling actions quickly replace such disturbing illnesses with ever expanding health and vitality. Supreme Master Ching Hai has often addressed the connection between global warming and disease, as in the following March 2009 videoconference in California, USA.


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/health/2010-09/08/c_13484236.htm
http://www.plenglish.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=219950&Itemid=1
http://www.france24.com/en/20100913-france-reports-first-mainland-dengue-infection-ministry

New website expands access to protected areas around the world.
The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have joined efforts to create the website, ProtectedPlanet.net which encourages users, also known as “citizen scientists,” to locate, visit and help provide information for some 150,000 protected regions
across the globe.

This interactive, social media-based website allows everyday visitors as well as trained scientists to upload photographs and travelogues as well as share recommendations of nearby places of interests.

Besides coordinating data on endangered species, native plant life and terrain types for scientists, governments and NGOs, it is hoped that the website will also encourage visits to benefit people and further the preservation of such protected areas.

Speaking with enthusiasm about the project, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner stated, “National parks and protected areas represent one key and successful response to conserving and managing this planet's nature-based assets. So… click on www.ProtectedPlanet.net for a new adventure.”

Hats off UN Environment Program and International Union for the Conservation of Nature for the successful launch of ProtectedPlanet.net! May this and other such constructive websites be graced with success as citizens worldwide are inspired to appreciate and care for the natural wonders of our beautiful planet.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/unep/128747508882.htm
http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=649&ArticleID=6787&l=en

Extra News
Bureau of Meteorology researchers in Australia find that large urban areas such as Sydney and Melbourne are vulnerable to faster warming rates due to heat that is absorbed and emitted from buildings and roads.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/aussie-city-life-turns-up-the-heat/story-e6freuzr-
1225938908168

US scientists discover that the climate-linked weather pattern known as El Niño Modoki is changing long-term ocean currents in the North Pacific, which in turn affect fish species and nutrient distributions throughout the seas.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101017133641.htm
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Climate-Change-Affects-Life-in-the-Pacific-161399.shtml

Secretariat of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change, Christiana Figueres, calls for developed nations to clearly state their emission reduction plans, to facilitatean effective accord at the upcoming climate conference in Mexico.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69C53920101013
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2010/world/10/14/hopes-fade-for-mexico-climate-talks/