Infectious Diseases bigger global threat than climate change: WEF
Context:
Infectious diseases topped the global risks chart, displacing climate change, according to the Global Risks Report, 2021.
What are Infectious Diseases?
Infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Microorganisms that cause disease are collectively called pathogens.
Infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another
For example through contact with bodily fluids, by aerosols (through coughing and sneezing), or via a vector, for example, a mosquito
What causes an infectious disease?
Viruses:
Viruses are tiny infectious agents that replicate only in the living cells of other organisms.
Viruses have a very simple structure consisting of genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA within a protein capsule.
They can infect all types of life forms, from animals to plants and bacteria to amoebae.
Bacteria:
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. They come in many shapes including ball-, rod and spiral-shaped.
Most bacteria are not harmful and some are actually beneficial. Less than one percent of bacteria will actually make a person ill.
Fungi:
Fungi are microorganisms characterized by cell walls made from a substance called chitin.
Fungi reproduce by releasing spores that can be picked up by direct contact or even inhaled.
Parasites:
Parasites are organisms that live in or on another organism and benefit by getting nutrients at the expense of their host.
Parasites can be found in many different body sites, for example in the blood, liver, digestive system, brain, and even the eyes.
Key-highlights of the Report
Report is published by World Economic Forum
Five of the top 10 global risks in terms of impact and likelihood remain from the environmental category.
Extreme weather is the top-most climate-related risk because of the failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The category was ranked tenth in the previous report, which said extreme weather and failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation would be the most damaging for the planet over the next 10 years.
Infectious Diseases bigger global threat than climate change: WEF
Context:
Infectious diseases topped the global risks chart, displacing climate change, according to the Global Risks Report, 2021.
What are Infectious Diseases?
What causes an infectious disease?
Viruses:
Viruses are tiny infectious agents that replicate only in the living cells of other organisms.
Bacteria:
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. They come in many shapes including ball-, rod and spiral-shaped.
Fungi:
Fungi are microorganisms characterized by cell walls made from a substance called chitin.
Parasites:
Parasites are organisms that live in or on another organism and benefit by getting nutrients at the expense of their host.
Key-highlights of the Report