Rainfall, Temperature and Dengue Risk: New Insights from Rio

Aedes aegypti mosquito (cdc.gov)

Here is a study by researchers from Brazil that looked at the relationship between dengue activity and climate in Rio de Janeiro from 2001 to 2009. Using statistical modeling, they found that a 10-millimeter rise in rainfall led to a 6% increase in dengue cases in the subsequent month, and a 1 degree celsius rise in temperature led to a 45% increase.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes aegypti (and Aedes albopictus) mosquitoes; it is the most common mosquito-borne viral infection. It causes an acute febrile illness characterized by severe pain (giving it its colloquial name: "breakbone" fever). The disease is associated with significant morbidity.

The findings in the above study are not surprising: increased temperature allows the mosquitoes that carry dengue to breed and feed more efficiently. Increased rainfall can increase potential breeding sites for these mosquitoes (which breed in freestanding water). This study adds to the growing body of literature linking climate and infectious disease activity.

A warmer world is one in which the various vectors for tropical infections (especially mosquitoes) will enjoy a broader environment in which to breed and feed. More research into the relationship between climate change and emerging infectious diseases is warranted.

European Dengue Outbreak: Etiology & Implications

Here is a link to a Reuters story reporting on the large outbreak of dengue ("breakbone") fever in Madeira (a Portuguese-controlled series of islands in the Atlantic just west of Morocco).  Over 1,300 cases have been reported since the outbreak was first recognized in October; significantly, this is the first sustained European dengue outbreak since the 1920s.

Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by Aedes aegypti (and Aedes albopictus) mosquitoes; it is the most common mosquito-borne viral infection. This is a febrile illness associated with high morbidity and low mortality; the disease can be deadly, however, as it can cause shock and an illness characterized by widespread hemorrhaging.

It is believed that the virus crossed species from monkeys to humans in Southeast Asia or Africa sometime in the past 1,000 years, with rapid dissemination of the disease around the world in the 20th century. Per WHO estimates 50-100 million infections occur each year with 22,000 deaths; see the CDC's site for great information about the disease.

Dengue fever is an excellent example of a disease that has emerged and expanded due to globalization; it is believed that rural-urban migration, explosive population growth, increased international trade and poor urban infrastructure all have played roles in the rapid expansion of this disease.

Dengue infections have made a resurgence in the United States as well, with cases reported in Key West in 2009 and recent cases being reported in Hawaii and in Texas, also. There is concern that climate change and global warming are playing a role in the re-emergence of dengue in the US: see a thoughtful commentary on this in the Lancet.

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/dengue/impact/en/; Areas in red
represent areas where dengue has emerged since 1960

What are the implications of the outbreak of dengue in Madeira and the sporadic cases being seen in the United States? It is clear that "tropical" infections can emerge and expand rapidly, and that infectious diseases are affected by globalization and do not respect traditional borders. Any solution to the dengue problem must involve a trans-national approach that emphasizes collaboration and brings together professionals across disciplines.

cdc.gov; Aedes aegypti mosquito

It is also clear that this is not a static issue: the public health community must be vigilant with dengue surveillance and early intervention (such as improved mosquito control) when disease expansion is detected.

Finally, here is a nice CBS News piece with a general discussion of the scope of the dengue problem, as well as an interview with Dr. Anthony Faucci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Apply for Global Environments Summer Academy - 2013

Via www.global-diversity.org

The third Global Environments Summer Academy (GESA) on Socio-ecological Interactions in a Dynamic World will be held from 27 July – 18 August, 2013 at the Centre for Development and the Environment at the University of Bern. This year's academy will focus on the human dimensions of global environmental change, ranging from adaptive community management to planetary processes. The academy has been organised by the Global Diversity Foundation, in partnership with the Rachel Carson Center, since 2011. 

Organisers are seeking applications from students in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences – as well as from professionals already working in advocacy, law, media or policy – who focus on the relationship between environment and society. 

According to GESA’s description, “every year the course focuses on different themes within the broad concern of human dimensions of global environmental change. The course spans local to global scales and diverse ecosystems, exploring the most critical contemporary environmental issues from multiple perspectives including biocultural diversity, environmental history, political ecology, sustainability studies and personal activism.” 

More details about course content, financial information and registration can be found here. Applications to GESA should be submitted here before 15 January, 2013.

RRI Dialogue on Forests, Governance and Climate Change

The twelfth Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) Dialogue on Forests, Governance and Climate Change was held at the Newseum in Washington, DC, on 5 November 2012, to consider the theme “Scaling-Up Strategies to Reduce Emissions and Advance Development in Forest Areas.” The event was organized by RRI in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy.

João Paulo Miranda and Jessica Campese (Natural Justice) attended the Dialogue, which included important discussions on addressing the obstacles of achieving sustainable use of forests. Participants included representatives from community and non-governmental organisations, governments, donors, and extractive industries, among others. The concept note and agenda, key presentations, and videos are available on the Dialogue webpage. The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Reporting Services provided digital coverage and a summary report.

Short Film on Artisanal Fishing in Latin America

Artisanal fisherfolk in Latin America face immense challenges from overfishing and climate change.  To highlight these challenges and allow young artisanal fisherfolk to share their own perspectives, Por La Mar Consorcio has developed a short film based on interviews with youth who draw their livelihoods from fishing. The film is in Spanish with English subtitles. 

Youth interviewed in the film emphasise the importance of artisanal fishing for supporting livelihoods, providing food security, nourishing cultures and creating jobs. They also consider the challenges they have faced from climate change. Finally, they consider how they can work to develop a better future for their communities. 

Read more about Por La Mar Consorcio in English here and Spanish here. Find more films by Por La Mar Consorcio here. 

REDD+ Readiness Workshop in Sabah

From 31 July to 1 August, Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) participated in a workshop on Malaysia's emerging national institutional framework for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (REDD+). The meeting, held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, was part of a three-year "REDD+ Readiness" joint project between the United Nations Development Programme and the federal Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (NRE).

The workshop included presentations on the following topics:

• "Introduction to REDD" by Dr. Elizabeth Philip, head of REDD+ Unit, NRE;
• "Sabah REDD+ Preparedness Roadmap" by Fred Kugan, Sabah Forestry Department;
• "Draft Recommendations for Institutional Framework" by Lee Kian Foh, project consultant; and
• "Free, Prior and Informed Consent within REDD+" by Maximilian Conrad, REDD+ Unit, NRE.

The workshop also included breakout groups and subsequent plenary discussions on social and environmental safeguards, financing and sharing of benefits, and measuring, reporting and verification. Natural Justice participated in the safeguards group alongside local organisations such as Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS) Trust and Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (JOAS), the Indigenous Peoples Network of Malaysia.

More information, news and analysis of REDD+ is available at: www.redd-monitor.org.