This excerpt from Grist’s field guide to tomorrow’s climate-driven diseases introduces you to some of the carriers that are growing in number and expanding into new parts of the U.S. as the environment changes. The viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites they spread can cause joint pain, skin lesions, long-term memory problems — even death. Some of these maladies have no treatment or cure, though experts emphasize that numerous preventative measures to limit infection exist.

Story by Zoya Teirstein Illustrations by Amelia Bates

“If you feel bad when you go to bed, by the time you wake up you could be ready for amputation, so don’t sleep on it. Go to the doctor as soon as you feel ill.”

Vibriosis

Carried by uncooked shellfish such as clams, mussels, and oysters

“[Chagas’ disease] is already in the U.S. but spreading and will become a big problem.”

Chagas’ disease

Carried by triatomine insects, commonly known as kissing bugs

Chikungunya fever

Carried by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes

“We are not prepared.”

In the spirit of a season that’s as spooky as climate, we’re digging up an article for you each week in October.

This Halloween, scare your friends with some climate crisis vocab

‘I had a meatmare’: Why flesh haunts the dreams of vegetarians

The juicy truth about vampire appliances

How human composting will change death in the city

The disease after tomorrow: Five illnesses spreading in a hotter world