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

Maya Negev²  Shlomit Paz⁴  Alexandra Clermont³  Noemie Groag Pri-Or²  Uri Shalom¹  Tamar Yeger¹  Manfred S. Green² 

[1] Division of Pest Surveillance & Control, Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 34033, Jerusalem 95464, Israel; E-Mails:;School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel; E-Mails:;The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Kibbutz Ketura 8884000, Israel; E-Mail:;Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel

关键词: climate change;    vector-borne diseases;    Mediterranean;    adaptation policy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph120606745

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.