With climate change, tackling new disease scenarios

Source– The post is based on the article “With climate change, tackling new disease scenarios” published in “The Hindu” on 27th September 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to development and management of health

News– As per the latest report released this March by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), climate change heightens the global risk of infectious diseases.

Why is there a strong connection between climate and disease?

It becomes increasingly evident each year. The regular occurrence of disease outbreaks caused by mosquitoes no longer follows anticipated patterns. Dengue fever now exhibits two to three peaks annually.

Fluctuations in temperature, rainfall, and humidity disrupt the cycles of disease transmission. These fluctuations also impact the distribution of the carriers and the animal hosts.

High temperatures can alter the genetic makeup of pathogens. It can affect their ability to infect and their virulence.

Habitat destruction compels disease-carrying animals to encroach upon human habitats. It increases the likelihood of human-animal interactions and the transfer of pathogens from wildlife to humans.

Climate change is altering ecosystems themselves. This dynamic leads to the introduction of invasive species and the expansion of the ranges of existing species. Both of these factors trigger disruptions in ecosystems.

Human-induced climate change is giving rise to an unprecedented vulnerability to health crises. India has experienced early summers and erratic monsoons causing water shortages in the Gangetic plains and Kerala.

These climate-related shifts are contributing to severe health challenges. It includes a dengue epidemic in Dhaka and Kolkata, and the Nipah outbreak in Kerala.

How infectious diseases are becoming a challenge for human health?

An analysis published in Nature Climate Change in 2022 warns that humans now face a broader range of infectious agents than ever before. Over half of all known infectious diseases that threaten humans are exacerbated by changing climate patterns.

Diseases often discover new transmission pathways, including environmental sources, medical tourism, and contaminated food and water from previously reliable sources.

What are steps taken by India in reporting outbreaks over the last two decades?

The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) was introduced in a few States in 2007, reporting 553 outbreaks in 2008 and increasing to 1,714 in 2017.

IDSP was replaced by the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP). It is a web-enabled, near-real-time electronic information system launched in seven States in 2018. IHIP expanded the scope by including 20 additional disease conditions.

How is one health approach beneficial in protecting humans from infectious diseases?

To combat the spread of these diseases, it is essential to protect ecosystems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and establish active pathogen surveillance.

A holistic approach, known as One Health, integrates monitoring of human, animal, plant, and environmental health.

This approach plays a crucial role in preventing outbreaks, especially those originating from animals.

What is the way forward?

India should initiate One Health and infectious disease control programs by fostering stronger collaboration between the central and state governments and their specialised agencies.

Departments responsible for animal husbandry, forest and wildlife, municipal corporations, and public health must converge efforts and establish robust surveillance systems.

Building trust and confidence, sharing data, and defining clear lines of responsibility while working with a coordinating agency are essential.