Impact of climate change on vector- and rodent-borne infectious diseases

Sandra Beermann; Gerhard Dobler; Mirko Faber; Christina Frank; Birgit Habedank; Peter Hagedorn; Helge Kampen; Carola Kuhn; Teresa Nygren; Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit; Erik Schmolz; Klaus Stark; Rainer G Ulrich; Sabrina Weiss; Hendrik Wilking

doi:10.25646/11401

Impact of climate change on vector- and rodent-borne infectious diseases

J Health Monit. 2023 Jun 1;8(Suppl 3):33-61. doi: 10.25646/11401. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany.
² Bundeswehr Institute of Microbiology, Munich, Germany, National Consulting Laboratory for Tick-Borne Encephalitis.
³ Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
⁴ German Environment Agency, Berlin, Germany, Section IV 1.4 Health Pests and their Control.
⁵ Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens.
⁶ Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany, Institute of Infectology.
⁷ Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany, Arbovirus and Entomology Department.
⁸ Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases.
⁹ German Center for Infection Research Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
¹⁰ Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany Centre for International Health Protection.

PMID: 37342429
PMCID: PMC10278376
DOI: 10.25646/11401

Abstract

Background: Endemic and imported vector- and rodent-borne infectious agents can be linked to high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, vector- and rodent-borne human diseases and the effects of climate change are important public health issues.

Methods: For this review, the relevant literature was identified and evaluated according to the thematic aspects and supplemented with an analysis of surveillance data for Germany.

Results: Factors such as increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and human behaviour may influence the epidemiology of vector- and rodent-borne infectious diseases in Germany.

Conclusions: The effects of climatic changes on the spread of vector- and rodent-borne infectious diseases need to be further studied in detail and considered in the context of climate adaptation measures.

Keywords: ARBOVIRUSES; CLIMATE CHANGE; PUUMALA ORTHOHANTAVIRUS; RESERVOIR HOSTS; VECTORS; ZOONOSES.

Grants and funding

The publication was coordinated through the project KlimGesundAkt, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health (chapter 1504; title 54401 HJ2021; duration 07/2021–06/2024).