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Climate Changes and the Effects on Disease



Purpose of this site
To summarize the relationships between Global Climate Changes and Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Overall Question
How does Emerging Infectious Diseases relate to Global Climate Change?

Note to Teachers
This page should help you "see the BIG picture" between climate changes and infectious diseases.  This can be used as a guide for creating lessons and designing activities. The focus questions (preceding the bold headings) are to help you develop ideas and major concepts within each of the sub topics. 


Focus Question
How do humans contract infectious diseases?

Types of Infectious Agents

Bacteria  Viruses  Protozoa 

Methods of Disease Transmission

Food-borne Diseases Water-borne Diseases Hosts i.e... insects & animals

Focus Questions
What infectious diseases are related to Global Climate Change?

Types of Infectious Diseases Sensitive to Climate

Bubonic/Pneumonic plague (B/I) Chagas (P/I) Cholera (bacteria) 
Dengue fever (V/M) Ebola (V/R) Encephalitis (V/M)
Filariasis (W) Giardiasis   (P) Hantavirus (Ro/R)
Hookworm (W) Influenza (V) Intestinal Helminth (N/D)
Lassa Virus (Ro) Leishmaniasis (P/Fy)  Lyme disease (B/T)
Malaria (P/M) Marburg Virus (V) Onchocerciasis(W/Fy)
Rabies (V/A) Rickettsioses (Flea) Rift Valley Fever (V/M)
Schistosomiasis (Fl) Seal plague (A) Yellow fever (V/Mo)
* Note-Current research is being done to gather more information about the transmission of some of the diseases above. At this time, there is supporting evidence that these diseases are related to climate change.

Key
Methods of disease transmission
B= bacteria A= Animal 
P= protozoa  R= Air 
V= virus Ro= Rodent 
M= mosquito N= nematode
I= insect D= Digestion
T= tick Fl= Fluke
W= worm Fy= Fly 


Focus Question
Why does climate change?

Causes for Global Climate Changes

Greenhouse Gases Deforestation
Reforestation Human Effects ex. burning fossil fuels
Ozone Depletion

Focus questions
What climate changes are prompting the emergence of many infectious diseases?

Direct Climate Changes

Temperature Wind
Precipitation
Extreme Weather Events  ie.floods
Humidity

Indirect Climate Changes

Sea Level Rise Temperature Extremes
El Nino Asian Monsoons
Wind Storms

Focus Question
How is society reacting, both socially and economically, to climate changes?

Socioeconomic Changes Resulting from Climate Change

Health Care Education
Human Behavior ex. building dams & irrigation canals Travel
Public Health Infrastructure

Focus Question
How might Emerging Infectious Diseases be controlled and/or prevented?

Prevention Strategies to Control the Spread of Infectious Diseases

Modeling Techniques ie. general circulation model Epidemiological Research
Surveillance Ecosystem monitoring
Weather Forecasting Coastal Policies
Population Control Water Purification
Public Health Care Treatment  ie.Vaccinations Changes in Human Behavior

Focus Question
Why aren't drugs and pesticides effective in the control of infectious disease?

Biological and Chemical Issues 
Surrounding the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases

Antibiotic Resistance Pesticide Resistance

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