Climate change drives emerging vector-borne diseases in Canada

Climate change is affecting the local ecology in Canada, contributing to emerging tick- and mosquito-borne diseases and infections in humans, argue authors of a commentary published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.260668.

"Climate change can drive disease emergence by increasing survival and geographic distributions of pathogens, vectors, and animal reservoir hosts, as well as by affecting human behavior," writes Dr. Eleni Galanis, Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Programs Branch at the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), with a coauthor. "The risk from climate-sensitive diseases already common in Canada is increasing."

Tropical diseases, such as dengue, chikungunya, or other mosquito-borne infections, could be transmitted locally as the Asian tiger mosquito, a host for these diseases, has been detected in the southernmost part of Ontario.

Clinicians should be aware of these disease threats and advise patients to take precautions when travelling and during summer months at home.

Two related articles in this issue of CMAJ provide clinical examples of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a newer disease, and tick-borne spirochetosis, a rare and difficult-to-diagnose disease.

https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.251935
https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.252050

"People in Canada are observing the substantial effects of climate change on human health. Physicians can prepare by familiarizing themselves with potential climate-sensitive diseases in their regions and maintaining a high index of suspicion in the appropriate clinical context," the authors conclude.