The evidence of climate change effects on infectious disease

Multiple studies have highlighted the impact of temperature, precipitation, and humidity variations on the transmission and distribution of infectious diseases. A systematic review conducted by researchers from the US examined climate change and infectious diseases research from 2015 to 2020, aiming to identify key trends and research gaps. Out of 621 research articles analyzed, representing 5.9% of the total, 109 different infectious diseases were associated with climate change investigations. The review revealed geographic and taxonomic patterns in recent studies, with a predominant focus on vector-borne pathogens in affluent, temperate countries, while overlooking directly-transmitted diseases in tropical regions.
This geographical and taxonomic bias may limit our understanding of climate change impacts on wildlife systems. Furthermore, certain pathogen and host taxonomic groups, transmission types, and geographic areas were underrepresented, posing global health concerns as neglected areas and diseases could give rise to emerging zoonotic diseases. To address these biases, an ecosystem-based approach to studying disease responses to climate change is proposed, aiming to mitigate topical and taxonomic biases. Moreover, there is a need for further research to elucidate the relationship between research funding patterns and climate change's influence on infectious diseases. By addressing these research gaps and biases, we can better understand and mitigate the complex interactions between climate change and infectious diseases, ultimately improving global health outcomes.