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Dr Jai P Narain,
Director Communicable Diseases Department interviewed by the South Asia Voice, an international monthly news
magazine (May 2008; Vol 1; page 67)
South Asia
Voice (SAV): Is there
evidence to conclusively establish that climate change will affect health?
Dr Jai P Narain (Jai): The WHO SEARO office is in the process of
collecting evidence on the nature and extent of the impact of climate change
on human health. We know clearly that the impact will be major but its
magnitude is yet to be delineated. We are now engaged in mapping of vectors
to see where they are moving. The National Institute of Malaria Research in New Delhi is conducting
studies to examine how vectors are evolving. We are also collaborating with a
WHO centre in Kobe in Japan to
study the impact of climate change on human health.
SAV: Will global climate change add to India’s enormous disease burden?
Jai: Certainly, one should be forewarned of an increase in vector borne,
water borne and respiratory diseases besides eye and skin diseases. Diarrhoea is the second most common cause of death among
children under the age of five in the developing world. India contributes heavily to the
global disease burden. The changes in weather will have direct and indirect
health consequences such as greater morbidity and mortality resulting from
heat stroke, skin and eye diseases. We don’t have to look back too long to
see what happened during the Plague outbreak in Surat (Gujarat) in India in 1994 where strong
monsoon following an immense heat wave, led to intense animal and human
interface.
SAV: How do you explain the link between climate change and vector borne
diseases>
Jai: We have to keep in mind the recent experiences of Bhutan and Nepal, both of which have
reported Dengue for the first time. Aedes Egypti, the dengue causing mosquito, was previously found
normally at a height of 500 metres above sea level.
Of late, these have been sighted at an altitude of 2200 meters in Darjeeling and 4000 meters in Nepal. Chikungunya,
which resurfaced in India
after 31 years in 2006, has been reported for the first time from Italy.
This could be also due to climate change. Chikungunya
is a viral disease caused by Aedes Egypti and Albopictus (found
mainly in coastal and rural areas). When the temperature goes up,
geographical areas which were colder earlier become warmer. With increased
temperature which is optimum for mosquito breeding, many new geographical
areas will have environment conducive to mosquito breeding.
As a result,
vector borne diseases, will have new destinations where populations were
earlier unexposed to such diseases. We are already seeing this in some
European countries and the United
States. Vector borne diseases can pose a
problem for people living in Jammu
and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
In 1960, Dengue Haemorhagic Fever was seen in seven countries. It
increased to 31 in 1980 and 60 in 2000. Some scientists believe that Chikungunya or dengue may become endemic in much of
Europe and North America. Climate change has
been blamed for Malaria in the highlands of Kenya. In the summer of 1997,
Malaria claimed hundreds of lives in the highlands of Kenya, where
populations had previously been unexposed.
SAV: What are the other health concerns arising
from climate change?
Jai: Higher temperatures are expected to increase the occurrence of heat
related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke and exacerbate
existing conditions related to circulatory respiratory and nervous system
problems. Warm spells, heat waves and stagnant air masses can cause heat
stroke, affecting mainly children and the elderly. Warmer temperatures and
disturbed rainfall patterns, may increase exposure
to Malaria, Dengue, Japanese Encephalitis and other diseases caused by
vectors such as mosquitoes, rodents and ticks. Food production, in particular
cereal crops, would be severely affected by climate change.
Droughts can lead
to malnutrition and starvation. This can affect the growth and development of
children. Reduced crop yields are bound to put farmers and their families
into difficult circumstances and cause psychological stress as they may not
be able to pay their debts during extended and repeated droughts. Changes in
the frequency of extreme weather events as heat waves, cold spells,
hurricanes, floods, cyclones and storms can cause loss of life, injuries and
lifelong disabilities.
SAV: Given the anticipated impact of climate change on health, what
steps should the government take in the near future?
Jai: India
has a leadership role to play, particularly in developing a model climate
change “adaptation” strategy based on evidence and relevant to the emerging
situation. There is no dearth of institutions and centres
of excellence in India
and well-coordinated multicentric studies based on
sound methodology, can help delineate and characterize more precisely the
nature and extent of climate change induced adverse health impact. The empirical data
generated from such studies in India would be relevant even
overseas for sound arguments for advocacy and to articulate the need for
strengthening public health infrastructure and early warning systems. It
would also help in planning a communication campaign addressed at communities
and individuals on the health impact of climate change and what they can do
to reduce gas emissions.
SAV: What can individuals and communities do to mitigate the effects of
green house emissions?
Jai: It is ironical that climate change will have disproportionate and
most severe impact on poor people of Africa and Asia
who have least contributed to it and are the least equipped to deal with it.
By following simple measures in our daily lives, we can dramatically reduce
green house gases and turn back the clock on climate change. These include
buying energy efficient appliances, opting for fuel-efficient, environment
friendly car, halving emissions by moving the air conditioner thermostat up
by five degrees Celsius in summer, cleaning air filters in air conditioners
regularly and using plant based paints, cleaners and pest repellants and
segregating waste. Heaps of garbage left in the open emit methane and
contribute to global warming.
Climate
change and communicable diseases: the challenge ahead
 
The global warming
induced by climate change has added a new dimension to the burgeoning problem
of communicable diseases in particular in South-East Asia Region. The
countries of this Region must be prepared to respond to this challenge. The
forthcoming meeting of Regional Committee for WHO South-East Asia shall also
deliberate on this issue.
Protecting health from
climate change World Health Day 2008 theme
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