Battling Neglected Tropical Diseases in Times of Climate Change

The Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD)-community is observing the spread of NTDs into areas where they have not occurred before. Transmission patterns and geographic prevalence of certain NTDs are likely to change because of climatic changes, such as increasing temperatures and precipitation, causing longer periods of droughts and flooding.

Already now is it observed that dengue fever is an increasing health problem in many areas. Even areas which were not at risk before are now expected to be increasingly exposed to spreading of dengue fever, as i.e. the southern United States, southern Europe and parts of Africa. Another example is the changing habitats of venomous snakes because of flooding and droughts. The snakes are moving to other areas, causing challenges on the complex management of snakebites. As a 3rd example can be mentioned that mosquitoes are potentially transmitting lymphatic filariasis in areas with more regular flooding and schistosomiasis is occurring where flooding becomes permanent. Beside these concrete threats there are more general impacts due to climate change. More and more people will be forced to migrate from their affected areas – this also will have impact on the pathways to elimination of NTDs.