The World Health Organization is increasing focus on the link between climate science and the spread of mosquito-borne illnesses like Zika.
Climate change and weather events have caused droughts and flooding in different parts of the world. Mosquito proliferation is linked to flooding and water storage issues. Therefore, many experts believe responses to these climate events need to get better.
"We are paying much more attention to the links between climate and weather and health, and trying to use this information and this understanding to improve the response," Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, team leader for climate change and health with the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, told Reuters.
Overall, little has been done internationally to combat public health issues with climate science. While the notion of syncing climate factors with public health has become more widely accepted, the resources that would catalyze changes to infrastructure and urban planning have yet to be applied.
Madeleine Thomson, PhD, a senior scientist with the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, characterized the idea that climate change will make certain populations more vulnerable to mosquito-borne disease as "not rocket science."
"The key thing is how do we use that knowledge to better control Zika and other emerging infectious diseases that will come down the pipeline?" Dr. Thompson told Reuters.
Dr. Thomson will attend a meeting called by Pan American Health Organization in Washington this week to establish a public health research agenda for Zika. Talks are expected to include weather and climate influences.
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