Global warming is contributing to air pollution and changes in the habitats of mosquitoes that carry infectious diseases and to an increase in the number of sick people, a group of American medical associations warned in its report.
The group "Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health", which represents more than half of the medical corps in the United States of America, states that asthma is worsening, lung and heart diseases are more common, and infectious diseases are spreading.
The group's goal is to launch a campaign to encourage decision makers to better understand the public health risks of climate change in order to address them.
Some of the measures are an accelerated transition to clean renewable energy sources and changes in the habits of Americans that should be encouraged to drive less by car and more by bicycle or to walk, Reuters reports.
"Doctors across the country are finding that climate change is making Americans sicker," said Dr. Mona Sarfati who heads a consortium of 11 major professional medical associations.
"The most affected will be children, but also the elderly, poor Americans and people suffering from chronic diseases," she said.
The report, which was published under the title "Medical alert! Climate change is harming our health", will be distributed to members of Congress, which is majority Republican, and among them is the largest number of climate skeptics.
The document mentions the dangers to lung and heart health and warns of an increase in the number of fires and pollution, all of which are linked to global warming. It also warns of the disastrous effects of heatstrokes, which are becoming more and more frequent.
The authors cite an increased number of tick-borne infections, followed by mosquito-borne diseases.
Due to climate change, meteorological events such as hurricanes and droughts are likely to become more frequent and more destructive, which could adversely affect mental health, the report warns.
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