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Climate change and infectious diseases: What can we expect?
1Public Health Risk Sciences Division, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, St. Hyacinthe, QC.
Summary
Global climate change is increasing infectious disease risks in Canada. Warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns facilitate the spread of vector-borne and foodborne illnesses, posing a threat to public health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science
- Public health
- Infectious diseases
Background:
- Global climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, causes disproportionately greater warming in Canada.
- This warming trend is associated with altered precipitation patterns, increased climate variability, and extreme weather events.
- These environmental shifts create conditions conducive to the emergence and re-emergence of infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key infectious disease risks in Canada linked to climate change.
- To assess the vulnerability of the Canadian population to these emerging threats.
- To inform public health strategies for risk reduction.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on climate change impacts on infectious diseases.
- Analysis of disease transmission patterns and geographical spread.
- Assessment of population vulnerability factors.
Main Results:
- Climate change is expected to facilitate the northward spread of diseases from the U.S. and introduction from international sources.
- Emerging risks include tick-borne diseases (beyond Lyme disease), exotic mosquito-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, dengue), and increased West Nile virus epidemics.
- Higher incidence of foodborne illnesses and re-emergence of endemic diseases are also anticipated.
- An aging population with chronic diseases increases susceptibility to infectious diseases.
Conclusions:
- Climate change presents significant infectious disease risks for Canada.
- Proactive identification of emerging disease risks is crucial for effective public health interventions.
- Public health efforts must focus on reducing population vulnerability and exposure to climate-sensitive infectious diseases.
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