SENSITIVITY OF MALARIA, SCHISTOSOMIASIS AND DENGUE TO GLOBAL WARMING

Global assessment of the potential impacts of anthropogenically-induce d climate change on vector-borne diseases suggests an increase in exte nt of the geographical areas susceptible to transmission of malarial P lasmodium parasites, dengue Flavivirus and Schistosoma worms. The tran smission potential of the three associated vector-borne diseases studi ed is highly sensitive to climate changes on the periphery of the curr ently endemic areas and at higher altitudes within such areas. Our fin dings vis-a-vis the present endemic areas indicate that the increase i n the epidemic potential of malaria and dengue transmission may be est imated at 12-27% and 31-47%, respectively, while in contrast, schistos omiasis transmission potential may be expected to exhibit a 11-17% dec rease.