The emergence of the Zika virus in South America and its link to the devastating birth defect microcephaly has raised questions about how climate and environmental factors contribute to the spread and risk of vector-borne diseases. The World Health Organization declared Monday the Zika virus a global health emergency on the scale of the Ebola virus. By altering conditions--local temperatures, rainfall and population movements--that determine the spread of the pathogens, global warming makes the transmission of vector-borne diseases (VBDs) unpredictable and difficult to control. When it comes to vector-borne diseases like Zika, climate change is a threat multiplier.
On Friday at 11 am EST, Climate Nexus will host a tele briefing with medical and climate experts to examine the extent to which climate change and warming temperatures affect the spread patterns of diseases like Zika, malaria, dengue fever and Lyme disease.
WHAT: Scientific briefing exploring connections between climate change and the spread of the Zika virus and other vector-borne diseases
WHEN: 11 am EST on Friday, February 5, 2016
WHO:
• Dr. Jonathan Patz, Director of the Global Health Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Dr. Nick Watts, Head of Project, 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change
WHERE: This is a Zoom conference call. Please join at this link.
If you are unable to join online, call: +1-888-974-9888, code: 118-970-124
RSVP: We appreciate RSVPs to Emma Stieglitz, estieglitz@climatenexus.org
