Climate change and health: An analysis of causal relations on the spread of vector-borne diseases in Brazil

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe increases in greenhouse gas concentrations caused by anthropogenic activities such as industrial emissions, transport and burning of forests and other resources, recorded over the past decades, are known to have an impact on the global environment. In particular, this paper reviews the evidence that climate change has an impact on human health as a whole and on the spread of vector-borne diseases in particular. It offers an analysis of previous research on the connections between climate change and health, with a case study from Brazil, and lists some areas which may guide future policy-making.

Climate Change, Health and Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Trends and Implications to the Pacific Region

“…Figure 1 illustrates some of the so called "climate stressors" and lists some of the groups which may be affected by them. suitable for the proliferation of the vectors [19] a trend that could also be observed in the tropical Pacific region.…”

“…As earlier stated, the links between human health and climate change in Pacific island countries have been discussed in previous works (e.g., World Health Organisation 2015 [20]). In particular, the extent to which climate change may lead to a greater incidence of diseases, which can be considered "climate related", was discussed in a recent study (Leal Filho et al 2017 [19]). However, research on climate stressors as a whole, and on the surge of vector-borne diseases in particular, is not as abundant as it could be.…”

“…Increased temperature increase vector and pathogen metabolism thus allow for faster replication and spread, whereas erratic rainfall patterns may increase the availability of suitable breeding sites [17,18]. Those trends may expand the transmission season in tropical and sub-tropical areas and create the risk of establishment of invasive vector species and infectious diseases in temperate climates by making the environment more suitable for the proliferation of the vectors [19] a trend that could also be observed in the tropical Pacific region.…”

An Assessment of the Relationships between Extreme Weather Events, Vulnerability, and the Impacts on Human Wellbeing in Latin America

“…Climate events worsen health disparities in developing countries as a whole and weather extremes in particular. As a result, environmental health problems that are associated with the indirect climate impacts [ 16 ], such as stress due, for instance, to damages to crops and properties, thermal discomfort [ 49 ], or increases in the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases [ 50 ] tend to widen the gap and make populations in developing countries even more vulnerable than they already are. Equality stands at the centre of development; the gaps in the provision of services are associated with the persistence of slums, whose inhabitants frequently face higher risks of exposure to communicable diseases, environmental pollution, and natural disasters [ 51 ].…”

Comparative Analysis of Machine Learning Classifiers for the Prediction of Malaria Incidence Attributed to Climatic Factors

“…This is because both vectors and parasites tend to be sensitive to changes in atmospheric temperature and moisture [4]. The distribution of malaria is limited by the climate tolerance of the mosquito vectors, and the biological restrictions that limit the incubation and the survival of the infective agent in the vector population [5]. The examination of how climate conditions could affect the spreading of malaria can be approached by closely monitoring various aspects that change in the climate and the surrounding environment.…”