Climate change and vector-borne diseases : A global modelling perspective

GCM-based scenarios of anthropogenic global climate change are used for the assessment of potential changes in areas vulnerable to malaria and schistosomiasis transmission. The study shows that the transmission potential of both vector-borne diseases is very sensitive to climate changes on the periphery of the present endemic areas and at higher altitudes within these areas. The health impact will be most pronounced in populations living in the less economically developed temperate areas in which endemicity is low or absent.