Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy
The Mediterranean region is vulnerable to climatic changes. A warming trend exists in the basin with changes in rainfall patterns. It is expected that vector-borne diseases (VBD) in the region will be influenced by climate change since weather conditions influence their emergence. For some diseases...
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doaj-fb23bae7a022485c9e5da3d6e14ab6542020-11-25T00:51:46ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1660-46012015-06-011266745677010.3390/ijerph120606745ijerph120606745Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation PolicyMaya Negev0Shlomit Paz1Alexandra Clermont2Noemie Groag Pri-Or3Uri Shalom4Tamar Yeger5Manfred S. Green6School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelThe Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Kibbutz Ketura 8884000, IsraelSchool of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelDivision of Pest Surveillance & Control, Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 34033, Jerusalem 95464, IsraelDivision of Pest Surveillance & Control, Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 34033, Jerusalem 95464, IsraelSchool of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelThe Mediterranean region is vulnerable to climatic changes. A warming trend exists in the basin with changes in rainfall patterns. It is expected that vector-borne diseases (VBD) in the region will be influenced by climate change since weather conditions influence their emergence. For some diseases (i.e., West Nile virus) the linkage between emergence andclimate change was recently proved; for others (such as dengue) the risk for local transmission is real. Consequently, adaptation and preparation for changing patterns of VBD distribution is crucial in the Mediterranean basin. We analyzed six representative Mediterranean countries and found that they have started to prepare for this threat, but the preparation levels among them differ, and policy mechanisms are limited and basic. Furthermore, cross-border cooperation is not stable and depends on international frameworks. The Mediterranean countries should improve their adaptation plans, and develop more cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary and participatory approaches. In addition, based on experience from existing local networks in advancing national legislation and trans-border cooperation, we outline recommendations for a regional cooperation framework. We suggest that a stable and neutral framework is required, and that it should address the characteristics and needs of African, Asian and European countries around the Mediterranean in order to ensure participation. Such a regional framework is essential to reduce the risk of VBD transmission, since the vectors of infectious diseases know no political borders.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/6/6745climate changevector-borne diseasesMediterraneanadaptation policy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Maya Negev Shlomit Paz Alexandra Clermont Noemie Groag Pri-Or Uri Shalom Tamar Yeger Manfred S. Green |
spellingShingle |
Maya Negev Shlomit Paz Alexandra Clermont Noemie Groag Pri-Or Uri Shalom Tamar Yeger Manfred S. Green Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health climate change vector-borne diseases Mediterranean adaptation policy |
author_facet |
Maya Negev Shlomit Paz Alexandra Clermont Noemie Groag Pri-Or Uri Shalom Tamar Yeger Manfred S. Green |
author_sort |
Maya Negev |
title |
Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy |
title_short |
Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy |
title_full |
Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy |
title_fullStr |
Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy |
title_full_unstemmed |
Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy |
title_sort |
impacts of climate change on vector borne diseases in the mediterranean basin — implications for preparedness and adaptation policy |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2015-06-01 |
description |
The Mediterranean region is vulnerable to climatic changes. A warming trend exists in the basin with changes in rainfall patterns. It is expected that vector-borne diseases (VBD) in the region will be influenced by climate change since weather conditions influence their emergence. For some diseases (i.e., West Nile virus) the linkage between emergence andclimate change was recently proved; for others (such as dengue) the risk for local transmission is real. Consequently, adaptation and preparation for changing patterns of VBD distribution is crucial in the Mediterranean basin. We analyzed six representative Mediterranean countries and found that they have started to prepare for this threat, but the preparation levels among them differ, and policy mechanisms are limited and basic. Furthermore, cross-border cooperation is not stable and depends on international frameworks. The Mediterranean countries should improve their adaptation plans, and develop more cross-sectoral, multidisciplinary and participatory approaches. In addition, based on experience from existing local networks in advancing national legislation and trans-border cooperation, we outline recommendations for a regional cooperation framework. We suggest that a stable and neutral framework is required, and that it should address the characteristics and needs of African, Asian and European countries around the Mediterranean in order to ensure participation. Such a regional framework is essential to reduce the risk of VBD transmission, since the vectors of infectious diseases know no political borders. |
topic |
climate change vector-borne diseases Mediterranean adaptation policy |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/12/6/6745 |
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