Heat waves and the spread of infectious diseases due to climate change are growing health threats

While there is growing recognition of the importance of addressing the impacts of climate change on human health, the time has come to move from planning to action and improve awareness among health and public health professionals to make Europe’s population more resilient, according to the EEA report “Climate change as a threat to health and well-being in Europe: focus on heat and infections diseases“.

The EEA report focuses on the impact that higher temperatures have on the population, leading to the highest number of deaths associated with natural hazards in Europe. Due to climate change, these deaths are expected to increase significantly unless adaptation measures are taken. Climate-sensitive infectious diseases, another emerging threat, are expected to spread further northward and produce a greater burden of disease in Europe. The report is based on knowledge developed for the European Climate and Health Observatory, which provides access to a wide range of relevant data, tools and publications, as well as other resources that inform on the human health implications of climate change.

Action to protect vulnerable groups from heat waves

Increasingly long, intense and frequent heat waves, in combination with an aging population and increasing urbanization, result in increased exposure to high temperatures for the most vulnerable populations, particularly in southern and central Europe. The location of many schools and hospitals in areas where the urban heat island effect occurs, further exacerbating high temperatures, requires urgent adaptation of these facilities. Rising temperatures also affect occupational health and safety and result on average in an annual loss of sixteen hours per worker in sectors with high exposure, with the highest losses in southern Europe.

Reducing the health impacts of heat waves requires the implementation of a wide range of solutions, including effective heat wave health action plans, the creation of more green and shaded areas in cities, appropriate building design and construction, and the adjustment of working conditions and working hours to reduce people’s exposure.

Climatic conditions more favorable for infectious diseases.

Variable climatic conditions are increasingly favorable for the emergence and transmission of climate-sensitive infectious diseases such as malaria, dengue fever or West Nile fever, which also extend the risk of transmission to previously unaffected areas of Europe, such as northern areas. The expected lengthening of the transmission season and the wider distribution of mosquito species that act as vectors of malaria and dengue, together with the increasing number of imported disease cases from travel, increase the likelihood of local outbreaks.

People working in the fields of agriculture, forestry or emergency services may be at greater risk of contracting one of these diseases, while the elderly, young children and people with compromised immune systems may suffer more if they contract a disease.

EU proposes comprehensive new on Climate-Security nexus

Warming sea waters are creating an increasingly favorable environment for dangerous Vibrio bacteria, which are found in fish and crustaceans, particularly along the Baltic Sea coastline. Exposure to these bacteria can lead to serious illnesses. Effective monitoring of species acting as vectors or transmitting these diseases and disease surveillance would facilitate the development of early warnings and better targeted control of vector species or vaccination.

Prevention: coordination is essential

Monitoring and surveillance of climate-related threats are effective measures, as well as those most frequently mentioned in national public health or climate change adaptation strategies. Developing early warnings is essential: rapid, well-organized and effective actions as part of heat wave health action plans and providing adequate information to the public can reduce the risk of disease transmission.

On a local scale, the commitment of healthcare and social service providers to climate change adaptation planning remains low across Europe. Adapting to existing and emerging public health threats from climate change requires better preparedness of the healthcare sector through increased awareness, improved knowledge and greater engagement of healthcare and public health professionals, according to the EEA report. Improving the resilience of healthcare facilities to extreme weather and ensuring that healthcare systems are responsive to increased demand for patient care or diagnostics will also contribute.