Climate change and mosquito-borne disease: knowing the horse before hitching the cart.
Speculations on the potential impacts of climate change on human health often focus on the mosquito-borne diseases but ignore the complex interplay of the multitude of factors that are generally dominant in the dynamics of their transmission. A holistic view of this complexity - particularly the ecology and behaviour of the host and the ecology and behaviour of the vector - is the only valid starting point for assessing the significance of climate in the prevalence and incidence of these diseases.
Reiter
P
P
Insects and Infectious Diseases Unit, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. preiter@pasteur.fr
D000818:Animals; D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D009033:Culicidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004671:Encephalitis, Arbovirus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D005544:Forecasting; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D008288:Malaria / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D008954:Models, Biological; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011158:Population Growth; D011634:Public Health