Global warming is often predicted to cause a devastating increase in the range and frequency of malaria, but somebody forgot to tell the malarial mosquitoes. The World Health Organization reports global malaria deaths have declined by nearly 40% during the past decade, even as the earth experienced its “hottest decade on record.”
Al Gore focused attention on the alleged link between global warming and malaria in his movie An Inconvenient Truth. The media has been eager to run with Gore’s assertions, which you can see for yourself by doing a quick Google search of the terms “malaria” and “global warming.”
Here is a small sampling of malaria claims in the media:
“Global warming could lead to a return of insect-borne diseases in Britain such as malaria … a government report warns today.” – UK Independent, May 4, 2007
“Global warming will put millions more people at risk of malaria and dengue fever, according to a United Nations report that calls for an urgent review of the health dangers posed by climate change.” – Bloomberg, Nov. 27, 2007
“Doctors say global warming may bring malaria to Britain” – Reuters, April 3, 2008
“Global warming ‘will cause malaria epidemic in Australia and Pacific Islands'” – UK Telegraph, Nov. 20, 2008
“Malaria already kills a million people a year and now, researchers fear, climate change could make the problem even worse.” – ABC News, April 1, 2011
To (almost) quote legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, “What the hell is going on out here?!”
Global warming is often predicted to cause a devastating increase in the range and frequency of malaria, but somebody forgot to tell the malarial mosquitoes. The World Health Organization reports global malaria deaths have declined by nearly 40% during the past decade, even as the earth experienced its “hottest decade on record.”
Al Gore focused attention on the alleged link between global warming and malaria in his movie An Inconvenient Truth. The media has been eager to run with Gore’s assertions, which you can see for yourself by doing a quick Google search of the terms “malaria” and “global warming.”
Here is a small sampling of malaria claims in the media:
“Global warming could lead to a return of insect-borne diseases in Britain such as malaria … a government report warns today.” – UK Independent, May 4, 2007
“Global warming will put millions more people at risk of malaria and dengue fever, according to a United Nations report that calls for an urgent review of the health dangers posed by climate change.” – Bloomberg, Nov. 27, 2007
“Doctors say global warming may bring malaria to Britain” – Reuters, April 3, 2008
“Global warming ‘will cause malaria epidemic in Australia and Pacific Islands'” – UK Telegraph, Nov. 20, 2008
“Malaria already kills a million people a year and now, researchers fear, climate change could make the problem even worse.” – ABC News, April 1, 2011
To (almost) quote legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi, “What the hell is going on out here?!”
For one thing, a penchant for sensationalism is almost a prerequisite for working in the media. The media has always over-hyped alleged fears and threats of any kind. This is, after all, what sells newspapers.
