Climate Change: Impact on Viral Diseases

ABSTRACT

Gas emission by humans will change climate, warming by 1.4-5.8°C as predicted at the end of the current century. Climate oscillations between warm and cold phases (El Niño) add complexity in the field. The effects on health could be thermal stress, extreme weather events, and subsequently emerging infectious diseases. Consequences on food yields, social, demographic and economic imbalances, could also favour contagious diseases.

Increasing vector-borne infections could represent a major health concern. Additionally, numerous floods and massive movements of people could facilitate the transmission of water-borne infections. Moreover, decrease in food supply could disorganise populations with crowding and concomitant spreading of transmissible infectious pathogens such as viruses.

This short review aims to present the potential viral impact on human health in case of climate change, i.e. increased arboviruses, “tropical” viruses, and viral infections related to overcrowding in poor healthy context.