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On the other hand, global warming will be good for the UK's economy, with more tourists and better wine-producing conditions. Many of us involved in diagnostic parasitology will mourn the loss of interesting imported parasites. Having said that, our 'home grown' outbreaks of Giardia and Cryptosporidia may well become more frequent as water companies struggle to meet public demand for drinking water. However, the past few years have seen an increased risk of flooding in many regions of the UK. The following advice from the HPA is encouraging. "Any risks to the public from infections arising from floods are very rare in the UK. Although flood water may be contaminated with sewage, animal and other waste, any harmful micro-organisms in the water are usually very diluted and so present a very low risk of infection." http://www.hpa.org.uk/flooding What effect will global warming have on parasites in the tropics? Waterborne diseases such as Giardia, Cryptosporidia, amoebae etc. may become more prevalent in countries prone to flooding such as Bangladesh and many of the Far East islands.
A few yummy pictures to get you 'in the mood'. Adult Ascaris lumbricoides - What does this remind you of?
Epifluorescence - Cyclospora
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