{"id":8912,"date":"2016-11-03T19:10:25","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T23:10:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/creepy-crawlies-climate-change-at-the-cdc\/"},"modified":"2016-11-03T19:10:25","modified_gmt":"2016-11-03T23:10:25","slug":"creepy-crawlies-climate-change-at-the-cdc","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/creepy-crawlies-climate-change-at-the-cdc\/","title":{"rendered":"Creepy Crawlies & Climate Change at the CDC"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even if you\u2019re a fan of tropical climates, you\u2019ll likely agree that mosquitoes and ticks are an unpleasant side effect of warm temperatures. Unfortunately for bug magnets like me, climbing global temperatures mean that even Massachusetts will be seeing a lot more mosquitoes throughout the year. With these nasty biters come a host of vector-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika. Government organizations like the Center for Disease Control have to start thinking about how they\u2019ll prepare for increased outbreaks of arboviruses \u2013 infections spread between humans by insect hosts.<\/p>\n

Extreme events like Hurricane Katrina also increase a population\u2019s vulnerability to these diseases, so as climate change boosts the frequency of quakes and storms the CDC needs to be ready to get boots on the ground.<\/p>\n

A good way to get a sense of what the CDC is up against is the recent spread of Zika to the US. While this disease wasn\u2019t spread because of global warming, research shows that Zika-like infections are going to become more common as temperature-sensitive insects like mosquitoes, fleas and ticks spread to new geographic areas6<\/sup>. While the CDC is trying to react, they won\u2019t have the full funding they\u2019ve requested until at least next year because of political infighting8<\/sup>. This shows the need to improve preventative measures and their ability to rapidly address to new threats.<\/p>\n

The CDC needs to be able to understand, then respond, to the changing patterns of these kinds of diseases as changing climates nudge disease carriers farther north.<\/p>\n

\"Lyme<\/a>
Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection that has spread through much of the US, is illustrative of how climate change threatens population health. (2)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Understand It: Increase Funding for Basic Science & Forecasting<\/strong><\/p>\n

The CDC is aware of climate change as an issue for public health, and has published several reports about initial preparations, but it currently lacks the data infrastructure to anticipate and quickly assess new threats. Right now the CDC doesn\u2019t have great surveillance or predictive models to keep a pulse on where infections are. The CDC should arm itself with better monitoring tools so it can move quickly in the future.<\/p>\n

Tech can be leveraged to get the CDC to this goal. Creating a mosquito counting app, or tick bite reporting tool will provide real-time information about where the bugs are in the country. Sites like Topcoder or Codechef could then be used to create better algorithms to analyze this data and create great predictive models.<\/p>\n

Population Protection: Invest in Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n

In parallel, the CDC should invest in more infectious disease-focused testing and response centers across the country. In 2015 a mere 14 local Vector Control departments participated in the CDC\u2019s Performance Improvement Initiative3<\/sup>, a pretty scary stat in light of the growing number of Lyme and West Nile infections in the US. The CDC does have a laboratory response network of 150 laboratories, but current backlogs in Zika testing are making it hard for people to figure out if they\u2019ve been infected5<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t bode well for future larger outbreaks, so the group needs to figure out a system of local operational excellence that will allow them to respond to highly variable testing and patient volumes. Mosquito control in the US also depends on a patchwork quilt of local municipalities9<\/sup>. Centralizing resources, best practices and creating a formal response plan might help the decentralized government centers the CDC relies on do a better job in the future.<\/p>\n

Personal Protection: Engage the Public<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arbovirus prevention also depends on individuals protecting themselves from bites and managing mosquito populations by keeping their property mosquito-free.<\/p>\n

Media coverage of Zika in the US presents an opportunity to create an awareness campaign about the importance of managing insect populations and supporting preventative investments. While the CDC is working to improve its communication and community outreach as part of the 2016 Zika Response Plan, more general awareness about the threat of tropical diseases will be necessary in a warmer world.<\/p>\n

Creative public awareness efforts could help change the conversation from reactive to preventative measures. Linking the current fear of Zika to climate change through advertising and media coverage might help people understand that their energy choices are likely to result in more bug troubles in the future. The CDC might also work with its foundation arm to create more viral fundraising campaigns \u2013 perhaps Mosquito-vember or a Halloween themed tick and flea costume competition.<\/p>\n

Perhaps most importantly, the resulting public focus on infectious disease will help the CDC win the funding it needs to protect the population with improved forecasting, surveillance and testing infrastructure, and continue to build awareness of the link between climate change and scary infectious diseases.<\/p>\n

[766]<\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Gubler DJ. Resurgent Vector-Borne Diseases as a Global Health Problem. Emerg Infect Dis. 1998, Sep 11\/3\/2016<\/li>\n
  2. Beard, C.B., R.J. Eisen, C.M. Barker, J.F. Garofalo, M. Hahn, M. Hayden, A.J. Monaghan, N.H. Ogden, and P.J. Schramm, 2016: Ch. 5: Vectorborne Diseases. The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States: A Scientific Assessment. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, 129\u2013156. http:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.7930\/J0765C7V<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. “Vector Control Program Performance Assessment and Improvement Initiative.” Vector Control Program Performance Assessment and Improvement Initiative. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Nov. 2016.<\/li>\n
  4. Keim, Mark. \u201cBuilding Human Resilience: The Role of Public Health Preparedness and Response as an Adaptation to Climate Change\u201d. American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Vol. 35 Issue. 5 Nov 2008. http:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu\/science\/article\/pii\/S0749379708006879<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Rabin, Roni Caryn. \u201cWant a Zika Test? It\u2019s Not Easy.\u201d New York Times, 9\/19\/2016.<\/li>\n
  6. Beard, Ben. \u201cHow Climate Influences the Infectious Disease Landscape.\u201d CDC Grand Rounds. 12\/16\/2014. http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/cdcgrandrounds\/pdf\/gr-climate-change-1216.pdf<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. Cunrui Huang, Pavla Vaneckova, Xiaoming Wang, Gerry FitzGerald, Yuming Guo, Shilu Tong. \u201cConstraints and Barriers to Public Health Adaptation to Climate Change: A Review of the Literature.\u201d American Journal of Preventive Medicine, February 2011.<\/li>\n
  8. Fox, Maggie. \u201cZika Funds Not Going Anywhere Until Next Year, HHS Says.\u201d NBC News, 10\/18\/2016. http:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/storyline\/zika-virus-outbreak\/zika-funds-not-going-anywhere-until-next-year-hhs-says-n668481<\/a><\/li>\n
  9. McKenna, Maryn. \u201cDisorganized Mosquito Control Will Make US Vulnerable to Zika.\u201d National Geographic Blog, 02\/29\/2016. http:\/\/phenomena.nationalgeographic.com\/2016\/02\/29\/zika-mosquito-control\/<\/a><\/li>\n
  10. Andrew K. Githeko, Steve W. Lindsay, Ulisses E. Confalonieri, & Jonathan A. Patz. \u201cClimate change and vector-borne diseases: a regional analysis.\u201d Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2000 78<\/strong>.<\/li>\n
  11. Sonia Altizer, Richard S.Ostfeld, PieterT.J. Johnson, Susan Kutz, C.Drew Harvell. “Climate Change and Infectious Diseases: From Evidence to a Predictive Framework.” ScienceMag 2013. www.sciencemag.org\/special\/climate2013<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Climate change is forcing mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and the diseases they carry to new climates. 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