A framework for managing infectious diseases in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries in the face of climate change—East Africa as a case study

Bibliographic Data

ID19593523
AuthorsKatherine E L Worsley-Tonks (0000-0001-7485-0225, Institut Pasteur, corresponding author), Shaleen Angwenyi (0000-0001-8841-159X, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, corresponding author), Colin J Carlson (0000-0001-6960-8434, Yale University, corresponding author), Colin Carlson, Guéladio Cissé (0000-0002-6286-976X, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, corresponding author), Sharon L Deem (0000-0002-2549-3636, Saint Louis Zoo, corresponding author), Adam W Ferguson (0000-0002-6931-6420, Field Museum of Natural History, corresponding author), Eric M Fèvre (0000-0001-8931-4986, University of Liverpool, corresponding author), Esther G Kimaro (0000-0001-5072-7185, Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, corresponding author), David W Kimiti (0000-0002-6251-3835, corresponding author), Dino J Martins (0000-0003-1581-1642, Stony Brook University, corresponding author), Lutz Merbold (0000-0003-4974-170X, Agroscope, corresponding author), Anne Mottet (0000-0003-4142-5171, International Fund for Agricultural Development, corresponding author), Suzan Murray (0000-0001-6073-7969, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, corresponding author), Mathew Muturi (0000-0003-2110-8099, Kenya Wildlife Service, corresponding author), Teddie Potter (0000-0002-1830-0832, University of Minnesota, corresponding author), Shailendra Prasad (0000-0003-1168-5917, University of Minnesota, corresponding author), Hannah Wild (0000-0003-0974-0956, University of Washington, corresponding author), James M Hassell (0000-0002-4710-2827, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, corresponding author)
EditorsDinesh Bhandari (0000-0002-0979-1406)
Year2025
Volume5
Issue1
Pagese0003892
Publication date2025-01-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0003892
PMID39883787
OpenAlexW4406983542
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited111

Climate change is having unprecedented impacts on human health, including increasing infectious disease risk. Despite this, health systems across the world are currently not prepared for novel disease scenarios anticipated with climate change. While the need for health systems to develop climate change adaptation strategies has been stressed in the past, there is no clear consensus on how this can be achieved, especially in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries that experience high disease burdens and climate change impacts simultaneously. Here, we highlight the need to put health systems in the context of climate change and demonstrate how this can be achieved by taking into account all aspects of infectious disease risk (i.e., pathogen hazards, and exposure and vulnerability to these pathogen hazards). The framework focuses on rural communities in East Africa since communities in this region experience climate change impacts, present specific vulnerabilities and exposure to climate-related hazards, and have regular exposure to a high burden of infectious diseases. Implementing the outlined approach can help make health systems climate adapted and avoid slowing momentum towards achieving global health grand challenge targets

Biology · Climate change · Development economics · Disease · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Medicine · Travel-related health issues · Zoonotic diseases and public health · Ecology