Climate change and infectious disease risk management: a localised health security perspective

Collins, Andrew (2008) Climate change and infectious disease risk management: a localised health security perspective. In: UK - Southeast Asia Scientists and Practitioners Seminar on Climate Change, Disaster Risk Governance and Emergency Management, 2-3 December 2008, Kuala Lumpur.

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Abstract

Pathogenic risks in relation to climate change are not fully understood and to a large extent have to be regarded as unpredictable. It is therefore important to focus attention on human vulnerability and coping for which more certain influences on disease risk can be assessed. Despite commonplace environmental conditions for infectious diseases around the world, only some people are affected. This is because the larger proportions of disease risks are regularly a function of human socio-economic and consequent biological susceptibility to infection rather than significant changes in environmental hazards. As poverty and environmental degradation exacerbate disease risks for billions, poverty reduction is the core issue in mitigating climate related infectious disease risks, but human impoverishment and climate change can be complexly interrelated. Studies in Mozambique and Bangladesh are used here to examine key issues in the complex association between climate change and health. Some evidence suggests that individual and community based health risk reduction can build community resilience and health security and overall wellbeing in the face of epidemics in locations prone to the effects of climate change. Success in this respect would offset health impacts of changes in climate. However, the association between climate and health will continue to demand pro-poor precautionary risk reduction investments and proactive national and global governance contexts within which this can succeed

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