Climate Change & Infectious Disease Threats
Wednesday, December 14, 2022 | Virtual | 12 PM EST
Climate change is influencing the prevalence and distribution of infectious diseases around the world, as warming climates and changing precipitation patterns alter habitats for animal vectors. In particular, mosquitoes and ticks are expanding their ranges, carrying with them Malaria, Dengue virus, West Nile virus, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Fever and many other human pathogens to new regions where inhabitants, clinicians and public health systems are unprepared for these new threats.
This ePanel will assemble a panel of experts in infectious disease research, public health and climate medicine to discuss how climate change is driving vector-borne disease outbreaks around the world. The conversation will cover a variety of vectors, pathogens, geographic regions and climate zones to address the wide range of threats and impacts globally. In addition, we will explore how climate change increases the risk of zoonotic disease emergence, by driving changes in animal habitats and migration to new areas where they can transmit disease to novel host species. This creates opportunity for viral evolution in new animal reservoirs and increases the risk of spillover events into human populations.
Looking towards the future, we will discuss how to design and implement surveillance and early-warning systems to better prepare for and cope with these climate change-driven infectious disease threats.
Immediately following the event all audiences are invited to join our Virtual Networking Lounge where they can speak directly with the panelists and with each other in small groups to continue these conversations and make new connections to further their work, and the field.
Find out more about our expert panelists on the Keypoint Blog: https://keypoint.keystonesymposia.org/home/climate-health-infectious-disease-threats-free-epanel-event