Climate change, flooding, urbanisation and leptospirosis: fuelling the fire?

C L Lau; Lee D Smythe; Scott B Craig; P Weinstein

doi:10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.002

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Climate change, flooding, urbanisation and leptospirosis: fuelling the fire?

Journal article

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Climate change, flooding, urbanisation and leptospirosis: fuelling the fire?

C L Lau, Lee D Smythe, Scott B Craig and P Weinstein

Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Transactions, Vol.104(4), pp.631-638

2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.002

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Abstract

leptospirosis

ecology

epidemiology

zoonosis

climate change

emerging diseases

Flooding and heavy rainfall have been associated with numerous outbreaks of leptospirosis around the world. With global climate change, extreme weather events such as cyclones and floods are expected to occur with increasing frequency and greater intensity and may potentially result in an upsurge in the disease incidence as well as the magnitude of leptospirosis outbreaks. In this paper, we examine mechanisms by which climate change can affect various ecological factors that are likely to drive an increase in the overall incidence as well as the frequency of outbreaks of leptospirosis. We will discuss the geographical areas that are most likely to be at risk of an increase in leptospirosis disease burden owing to the coexistence of climate change hazard risk, environmental drivers of leptospirosis outbreaks, local socioeconomic circumstances, and social and demographic trends. To reduce this disease burden, enhanced surveillance and further research is required to understand the environmental drivers of infection, to build capacity in emergency response and to promote community adaptation to a changing climate.

Details

Title: Climate change, flooding, urbanisation and leptospirosis: fuelling the fire?
Authors: C L Lau (Author) - University of Queensland
Lee D Smythe (Author) - Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services
Scott B Craig (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health and Education
P Weinstein (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Transactions, Vol.104(4), pp.631-638
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Date published: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2010.07.002
ISSN: 0035-9203
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449463102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Tropical Medicine

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