Climate change and health in the Mid-Atlantic Region

This paper assesses potential health impacts from climate change in the Mid -Atlantic Region (MAR). It draws on diverse sources of information includin g health statistics and current climate and health literature. Climate proj ections for 2030 and 2095 from the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research and the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis are use d. They indicate a warmer, wetter and possible stormier climate for the MAR . Morbidity and mortality from extreme events may increase somewhat. Althou gh more speculative, climate change could increase the region's risk from w ater-borne and vector-borne diseases. The region's current and future healt h infrastructure are expected to be able to respond to the health risks, al though at increased cost from measures to protect the safety of food and wa ter, control disease vectors, and provide health services. The elderly and those with limited access to health care could be disproportionately affect ed.