Climate change and waterborne and vector-borne disease

Hunter, P. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5608-6144 (2003) Climate change and waterborne and vector-borne disease. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 94 (Supplement s1). 37–46. ISSN 1365-2672

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Abstract

This paper considers the potential impact on human health from waterborne and vector‐borne infections. It concentrates on the impact of two possible changes to climate; increased frequency of heavy rainfall events, with associated flooding and increased temperature. Flooding is associated with increased risk of infection in developing nations but not in the West unless water sources are compromised. There have been numerous reported of outbreaks that followed flooding that led to contamination of underground sources of drinking water. Heavy rainfall also leads to deterioration in the quality of surface waters that could adversely affect the health of those engaged in recreational water contact. It is also concluded that there may be an increase in the number of cyanobacterial blooms because of a combination of increased nutrient concentrations and water temperature. It is considered unlikely that climate change will lead to an increase in disease linked to mains drinking water, although private supplies would be at risk from increased heavy rainfall events. Although increased temperature could lead to climatic conditions favourable to increases in certain vector‐borne diseases such as malaria, the infrastructure in the UK would prevent the indigenous spread of malaria.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sdg 13 - climate action ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/climate_action
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Water Security Research Centre
Depositing User:	EPrints Services
Date Deposited:	25 Nov 2010 11:10
Last Modified:	08 Aug 2023 13:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/12933
DOI:	10.1046/j.1365-2672.94.s1.5.x

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