And malaria isn't the only disease to worry about. It looks as though many of the conditions will be met for more infectious diseases in the future. Musil says heat-related diseases already have appeared in New England, where warmer water temperatures permit the growth of toxic bacteria that contaminate lobster and other shellfish. Of course, severe weather itself is a threat to life and limb. A good example of another kind of effect is the recent storm-related flooding of the hog lagoons in North Carolina.
Flooding can contaminate local water supplies and lead to local increases in diarrheal diseases.
Ironically, climate disruption would also lead to pockets of extremely cold weather. Farming and Food Weather changes are likely to affect the food supply too. In the short term, warmer and wetter weather in some regions would actually help farmers. Some crops, like rice, will thrive in hot and humid conditions. Other foods, like soybeans, will not.