In August 2007, local health authorities in Italy detected a high incidence of disease in Castiglione di Cervia unusual and Castiglione di Ravenna, two small villages divided by a river. Nearly 200 people were affected and died an old man (Angelini et al., 2007).

After detailed research, the disease was found to be Chikungunya, a virus of insect origin transmitted to humans by the Aedes mosquito or more common “tiger” in Africa and Asia. The source of infection was attributed to a man on holiday in the region.

It is believed that the patient was infected before traveling to Europe, but was bitten by a tiger mosquito in Italy. The tiger mosquito is a vector or carrier of the virus and the insect in question is believed that the spread of the virus to another person in the village. This triggered a chain reaction with tiger mosquito bites the infected and spreading the virus to a mini-epidemic developed.

A network of interactions

The outbreak of chikungunya depends on a complex web of interactions and conditions that reveal some of the health risks and the challenges we face in a globalized world. Tourism, climate change, trade, movement of species and public health played an important role in the situation.

The tiger mosquito is believed to have been introduced into Europe through a wide range of imported goods – from ornamental plants, such as “Lucky Bamboo” used tires. The larva of the mosquito has been found in many parts of Europe, but only survive outdoors in warmer climates, the South and in greenhouses farther north – in the Netherlands, for example.

Dengue and West Nile fever is also now in Europe and also transmitted by mosquito bites. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm, Sweden, as the first large outbreak in Romania in 1996, infection with West Nile virus has been recognized as a major cause of concern for public health Europe. There is no vaccine available and the main preventive measures are aimed at reducing exposure to mosquito bites.

Intensive food production

We may be creating conditions for the spread of infectious diseases – conditions that did not exist before. The industrialization of food production, for example, is a major concern.

For the farming of one type of animal, we run the risk of producing “monoculture” with little genetic variability. These animals are very susceptible to diseases created by poor hygiene or infection of the wild animals, including birds. Once inside the monoculture, disease can mutate and spread, even to people who work with animals in question. Overuse of antibiotics has become an accepted method to compensate for the lack of natural resistance – a practice that can cause its own problems.

“Modern agriculture and efficient, like public health, looks to science and medicine to meet some of the demands of a globalized world. Although modern agriculture has benefited many of us with supplies of cheaper foods and abundant, may also lead to unexpected pressures and problems, “says Dr. Marc Sprenger, Director of ECDC.

“For example, as a result of the widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture, their effectiveness may diminish as more bacteria become resistant, which could potentially have an impact on human beings too,” says Dr. Sprenger.

Innovation: the environment and health

Efforts to combat climate change will improve air quality

EU climate package and Renewable Energy (CARE) aims to:

• reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 20% in 2020

• increase the share of renewable energies by 20% in 2020

• improve energy efficiency by 20% in 2020.

The efforts required to meet these goals will also reduce air pollution in Europe. For example, improvements in energy efficiency and greater use of renewable energies thus lead to reduced combustion of fossil fuels – a major source of air pollution. These positive effects are referred to as “co-benefits” of climate change policy.

It is estimated that the previous packet was reduced annual cost of meeting EU targets on air pollution billions of euros. And the savings of European health services could be up to six times higher.
Joining the points in Europe

New species and new diseases arriving in Europe are just some of the health impacts of climate change. Many of the environmental and social impacts ultimately affect human health through changes in the quality and quantity of water, air and food, and altered weather patterns, ecosystems, agriculture and the media subsistence.

Climate change may exacerbate existing environmental problems such as pollution of air, disrupt sustainable water supply and sanitation.

The heat wave in Europe in the summer of 2003, killing more than 70 000, stressed the need for adaptation to climate change. The elderly and people with certain diseases are more at risk and deprived population groups most vulnerable. In congested urban areas with soil sealing and heat-absorbent surface, the effects of heat waves may be exacerbated due to insufficient cooling of the night and poor drafts.

For stocks in the EU, mortality has been estimated an increase of 4.1% per degree increase in temperature over a (locally specific) cutoff. In the 2020s, the estimated increase in heat-related mortality resulting from projected climate change could exceed 25 000 per year, mainly in the regions of Central and Southern Europe.

Discussion connection health, land use, agriculture, tourism, trade and climate change needs to develop an imaginative way. Unable to connect public health and the environment and climate change right now, “says Dr. Sprenger.

“For example, recently visited the health department and asked who was in charge of climate change related issues and they said no one was there. This is not to judge any department or authority, but show that we must change our thinking about these problems, since they are all connected,” says Dr. Sprenger.
“Public health systems must begin to adapt and open to the possibility of new diseases and new climatic conditions. People may be misdiagnosed at the time because your doctor is unfamiliar with a new virus. Many look and feel like the flu. We need new tools to address new challenges such as training, and facilities such as laboratories need to be flexible and adaptable”, he says.

Source: European Enviroment Agency.