Arkansas Global Warming Emergency Broadcast System.?

By Mayo Clinic Staff
Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. Many organisms live in and on our bodies. They're normally harmless or even helpful, but under certain conditions, some organisms may cause disease.
Some infectious diseases can be passed from person to person. Some are transmitted by bites from insects or animals. And others are acquired by ingesting contaminated food or water or being exposed to organisms in the environment.
Signs and symptoms vary depending on the organism causing the infection, but often include fever and fatigue. Mild complaints may respond to rest and home remedies, while some life-threatening infections may require hospitalization.
Many infectious diseases, such as measles and chickenpox, can be prevented by vaccines. Frequent and thorough hand-washing also helps protect you from infectious diseases.


In an article at NWAOnline (that would be Northwest Arkansas Online, not the other NWA), we learn that "Report: Arkansas not disease-ready."
Arkansas is the least prepared state in the nation for an infectious disease outbreak, according to a report released Thursday by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ... Some information in the report should be of interest to Arkansans, [Dirk] Haselow [Arkansas Department of Health epidemiologist] said, including the lack of a climate change adaptation plan. The report says the plans can help states prepare for possible increases in infectious diseases because of climate change. 'We do need to start putting this on our radar,' Haselow said.
Here is what Arkansas should put on their climate change and disease radar: since records began in 1895, there has been no significant trend in the state's average temperature, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation, cooling degree days, heating degree days, Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Palmer Hydrological Drought Index (PHDI), Palmer Modified Drought Index (PMDI), or the ominously named "Palmer Z-Index."  This constitutes all climate indicators in the NOAA National Climatic Center Database.
This concludes this test of the Climate Emergency Broadcast System.

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