Researchers divided over effects of climate change on NTD transmission, IRIN reports

IRIN examines the relationship between climate change and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), writing, "Many researchers are concerned changes in rainfall patterns could result in a loss of 'endemic stability' for diseases carried by mosquitoes, ticks, and other disease hosts, and that environmental conditions could become favorable for disease transmission." However, "many researchers believe there is simply not enough information available to warrant alarm," the news service adds. "Mark Booth, deputy director of the Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing, said, 'There's a great deal of uncertainty. We're not sure how much climate change will affect [disease] transmission rates. We're not sure what will happen with the environment and how people and governments will adapt,'" IRIN writes.

"Speakers at the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD) Bites conference in London, in October, were divided over the extent to which climate change is already having an impact on NTD control and whether it should be given priority over other disease drivers," the news service notes, adding that some scientists are calling for additional research. According to IRIN, in addition to climate change, "other human factors are sure to have an effect on the spread of NTDs," such as the movement of goods and poor sanitation (11/5).