title: Assessment of human health vulnerability to climate variability and change in cuba.
abstract: Reprinted with permission from Environmental Health Perspectives. Dec 2006;114:1942-1949. In this study we assessed the potential effects of climate variability and change on population health in Cuba. We describe the climate of Cuba as well as the patterns of climate-sensitive diseases of primary concern, particularly dengue fever. Analyses of the associations between climatic anomalies and disease patterns highlight current vulnerability to climate variability. We describe current adaptations, including the application of climate predictions to prevent disease outbreaks. Finally, we present the potential economic costs associated with future impacts due to climate change. The tools used in this study can be useful in the development of appropriate and effective adaptation options to address the increased climate variability associated with climate change.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Meteorology, Havana, Cuba.
authors.forename: Paulo Lázaro
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ortíz
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez