195370 Warming Climate Changes Vermont Disease

Monday, November 9, 2009

Eliabeth Baker , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Matthew Meyer , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Asya MuMin , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Lindsay Oliver , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Daniel Oppenheimer , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Steven Perrins , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Whitney Young , University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Razelle Hoffman-Contois, MS , Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, VT
William Bress, PhD , Vermont Department of Health, Burlington, VT
Jan K. Carney, MD MPH , Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT
Introduction: Climatologic data demonstrates a measurable increase in Vermont's average annual temperature and precipitation over the past 112 years. These changes have the potential to prompt the migration of non-endemic flora and fauna into new environments. The introduction of non-native species can present foreign disease to a novel population. This phenomenon, specifically with vector-borne diseases (VBD), has already been reported elsewhere in the United States.

Objective: Assess Vermont's risk for experiencing an increase in VBD and how the risk correlates with the state's documented climate change.

Methods: Literature was compiled regarding climate change and Vermont's weather patterns. Temperature projections were modeled to generate predictions of Vermont's future climate to the year 2020. Additional investigation documented current vector habitats and disease life-cycles and analyzed individual threats for movement to Vermont.

Results: Evidence from assembled data links Vermont's climate change and the introduction of Lyme disease. Recent migration patterns of other vectors carrying VBD [West Nile Virus (WNV), Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF), Hantavirus, encephalitides, and Malaria] largely unseen in Vermont, albeit in neighboring states, have shown a correlation with rising temperatures.

Conclusions: Climate change has already instigated the invasion of new insect species transporting pathogenic disease into Vermont. Human cases of WNV, RMSF, Hantavirus, encephalitides, and possibly Malaria are expected to emerge and increase in Vermont with warmer temperatures in the near future.

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe climate modeling and impact on public health 2. Explain the relationships of climate change, lyme disease, and other infectious diseases. 3. Formulate professional and public educational strategies for emerging infectious diseases

Keywords: Climate Change, Emerging Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Participated in all aspects of the project: design and implementation, data analysis and/or interpretation, critical review, writing and poster presentation. I have experience presenting at a poster session.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Environmental Health Poster Session I: Exposure Among Vulnerable Populations
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