Climate Change and Infectious Diseases

Estudos demonstram que o clima influência de forma também danosa ao meio ambiente, bem como manifestação de determinados agravos à saúde. Procurou-se analisar as capitais do Nordeste Brasileiro. O objetivo deste estudo é detectar possíveis associações entre as infecções respiratórias agudas em crianças e o clima nas capitais. Utilizaram-se dados mensais do Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS de internações por infecções agudas do sistema respiratório; dados mensais de variáveis meteorológicas (temperatura do ar, umidade relativa do ar, Precipitação pluvial acumulada), disponibilizados pelo Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia, no período de 2000 a 2011. Foi utilizado o modelo marginal das Equações de Estimações Generalizadas, a fim de obter estimativas confiáveis para as variáveis, levando em consideração os dados de contagem e uma estrutura de correlação para detectar associações entre os indicadores climáticos e os números de internações. Os resultados constatam que Fortaleza apresentou o maior número de casos, totalizando 72.670 internações. Constatando também associações significativas, do número de internações de crianças, com a temperatura e a umidade relativa do ar (ambos os valores-p<0,001) na cidade do Recife-PE. Em Fortaleza-CE e Natal-RN as associações significativas, entre número de internações de crianças foram captadas apenas com a temperatura (ambos os valores-p<0,001). Salvador-BA e Teresinha-PI mostraram associações significativas com a umidade relativa do ar (valor-p=0,019 e 0,033 respectivamente). Aracaju-SE, João Pessoa-PB e São Luís-MA as associações significativas ocorreram apenas com a precipitação (valor-p<0,001, 0,050 e 0,001 respectivamente). Esses resultados preliminares podem ser indicadores para que gestores possam focar em medidas que possam minimizar os efeitos danosos da variabilidade climática na saúde. A B S T R A C T Studies show that the climate influence so harmful to the environment, also as well as manifestation of certain health problems. We analyze the capitals of Northeastern Brazil. The objective of this study is to detect possible associations between acute respiratory diseases in children and the climate in the capital. Monthly data were used from the National Health System – SUS admissions for acute diseases of the respiratory system; monthly weather variables data (air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation accumulated), provided by the National Institute of meteorology, in the period from 2000 to 2011.We used the marginal model of generalized equations estimations, in order to obtain reliable estimates for the variables, , taking into account the count data and correlation structure to detect associations between climatic indicators and numbers of hospitalizations. The results indicate that Fortaleza presented the largest number of cases, totaling 61,670 hospitalizations. Noting also significant associations, the number of hospitalizations of children, with the temperature and the relative humidity of the air (both p-values < 0.001) in the city of Recife-PE. Fortaleza-CE and Natal-RN only with temperature (both p-values < 0.001). Salvador-BA and Teresina-PI showed association with relative air humidity (p-value = 0.019 and 0.033, respectively), Aracaju-SE, João Pessoa-PB and São Luís-MA only with precipitation (p-value, 0.050 0.001 0.001 and < respectively). These preliminary results can be indicators that managers can focus on measures that can minimize the harmful effects of climate variability on health.

Tek sağlık insan sağlığının, hayvan ve paylaşılan ortak yaşam
alanlarımızın sağlığı ile yakından ilişkili olduğunu ifade eden bir yaklaşım. Bu kısa bilgi notunda iklim değişikliğinin etki ettiği biyo çeşitlilik, hayvan refahı ve bunların sonucunda ortaya çıkabilecek salgınlar özetlenmiştir.

Agriculture and the exploitation of natural resources are the main pivots of Cameroon’s economic development. An estimated 80 % of rural households are involved in farming and contribute about 30% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, prolonged dry spells and droughts negatively affect agricultural output and economic development. This paper examines the drivers, magnitude  and impact of climate change in the semi-arid northern section of Cameroon on food security and malnutrition.A conjunction between drought,climate change,desertification, prolonged dry spells and floods often lead to significant crop losses in this region. Compounding this situation is increased population pressure-partly due to the influx of refugees- and drought which have led to the mobility of herds as a response to the extension of cropping areas, pasture shortage and grazer-farmer conflicts resulting from crop damage. This is happening against the backdrop of land tenure insecurity for women that has been fuelled by competition and power struggle between customary and modern tenure systems affecting land management and access to resources. These negative impacts of climate change have the potential to alter agricultural productivity, fuel illnesses and diseases in one of the least developed regions in Cameroon. Although the fundamental elements of ecology-climate, soil and vegetation are subjected to variations, they are interconnected. Climate tends to have a bearing on health and mortality in two ways.On the one hand, it conditions temperature which disproportionately affects children at tender ages and on the other, it favours the spread of infectious agents or their vectors-especially pathogenic micro-organisms- and it is determinant to the type, quantity as well as the quality of food and water resources during certain periods of the year. The paper suggests among others that the negative impacts of temperature and precipitation change could be counteracted by changing sowing dates, through the professionalisation of livestock production alongside the promotion of forage crops and by stepping up investment in infrastucture-particularly transportation and irrigation. The success of these measures will require a coordinated intersectorial and transborder approach to rural development.