Impacts of Climate Change on Vector Borne Diseases in the Mediterranean Basin — Implications for Preparedness and Adaptation Policy

Maya Negev, Shlomit Paz, Alexandra Clermont, Noemie Groag Pri-Or, Uri Shalom, Tamar Yeger and Manfred S. Green
Additional contact information
Maya Negev: School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Shlomit Paz: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Alexandra Clermont: The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Kibbutz Ketura 8884000, Israel
Noemie Groag Pri-Or: School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Uri Shalom: Division of Pest Surveillance & Control, Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 34033, Jerusalem 95464, Israel
Tamar Yeger: Division of Pest Surveillance & Control, Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection, P.O. Box 34033, Jerusalem 95464, Israel
Manfred S. Green: School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel

IJERPH, 2015, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-26

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: climate change; vector-borne diseases; Mediterranean; adaptation policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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