Climate Change and Human Health Literature Portal
Appraisal of the present and future impact of climate change and climate variability on the transmission of infectious diseases is a complex but pressing public health issue. We developed a biology-driven model to assess the potential impact of rising temperature on the transmission of schistosomiasis in China. We found a temperature threshold of 15.4 degrees C for development of Schistosoma japonicum within the intermediate host snail (i.e., Oncomelania hupensis), and a temperature of 5.8 degrees C at which half the snail sample investigated was in hibernation. Historical data suggest that the occurrence of O. hupensis is restricted to areas where the mean January temperature is above 0 degrees C. The combination of these temperature thresholds, together with our own predicted temperature increases in China of 0.9 degrees C in 2030 and 1.6 degrees C in 2050 facilitated predictive risk mapping. We forecast an expansion of schistosomiasis transmission into currently non-endemic areas in the north, with an additional risk area of 783,883 km(2) by 2050, translating to 8.1% of the surface area of China. Our results call for rigorous monitoring and surveillance of schistosomiasis in a future warmer China.
Resource Description
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Temperature
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General Geographic Feature
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Non-United States
- Non-United States: Asia
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Infectious Disease
- Infectious Disease: Waterborne Disease
- Waterborne Disease: Schistosomiasis
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Exposure Change Prediction, Outcome Change Prediction
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Research Article
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Adaptation, Communication
- Adaptation, Communication: Adaptation Co-Benefit/Co-Harm, Vulnerability Assessment
- Adaptation, Communication: Policymaker