Dr Douglas McAllister, Ph.D
Scientific Fellow, Medix Biochemica
Dr Amy Moore, Ph.D
Global Infectious Disease Portfolio Product Manager, Medix Biochemica
Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are having a devastating impact on global health, making the accessibility of precise diagnostics even more important.
Arguably, one of the biggest impacts of climate change isn’t talked about enough: the devastating effect rising temperatures and changing weather patterns have on human health.
Increasing vector-borne diseases
“In particular, vector-borne diseases are on the increase,” explains Dr Douglas McAllister, Scientific Fellow at Medix Biochemica, an in vitro diagnostics raw material supplier. “Take dengue fever, which is transmitted by the aedes mosquito. This is on the rise in tropic and subtropic areas.” Worryingly, only a slight temperature increase is necessary for such vectors to survive and thrive.
Countries with the resources are subsidising, purchasing and distributing rapid tests. Resource-poor countries don’t have that luxury
The need for rapid and accurate in vitro diagnostics (IVD) has become more important. “Healthcare practitioners have to quickly understand the nature of an infection to prescribe the most appropriate treatment,” says Dr Amy Moore, Global Infectious Disease Portfolio Product Manager at Medix Biochemica. “Because if it’s viral rather than bacterial, antibiotics won’t work — but they can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).” AMR-resistant infections can then lead to failed treatments and the development of sepsis.
Collaboration is essential for better public health
Diagnostic tests should be universally accessible — but, sadly, are not. “The reason for that is economics,” says Dr McAllister. “Countries with the resources are subsidising, purchasing and distributing rapid tests. Resource-poor countries don’t have that luxury.”
Medix Biochemica has become a big player in the field of infectious disease, providing essential raw materials for IVD assays, quality control materials and molecular diagnostic reagents supporting improved diagnostic accuracy and capabilities. Yet, no one company can square this particular circle. Collaboration among stakeholders — including governments, healthcare providers, philanthropic organisations and individuals — is key to better diagnostics, improved public health and curbing AMR and sepsis.
Going forward, Dr McAllister expects patients to demand improved diagnostics for all kinds of ailments. “With Covid, people could self-diagnose at home. They now have a taste for it and, presumably, will start asking: ‘Why can’t I do the same for strep throat?’ So, the diagnostic genie is out of the bottle, and that’s a good thing.”
