Guidelines For Signature Assignment: Make Sure To Label Each ✓ Solved

Guidelines For Signature Assignmentmake Sure To Label Each

This signature assignment is a summary of previous research on a topic on climate change. Follow the following guidelines.

Step-1: Choose ANY one of the following Climate Change stressor listed in Table 1. The same general topic in step-1 can be chosen by multiple groups, but the final topic focus should be different enough.

TOPIC OF CHOICE IS: #13 FROM THE TABLE LIST BELOW

Table 1. List of topics.

• 13 Change in mosquito ecology leading to increase in vector-borne disease e.g. Zika, dengue chikungunya, malaria, yellow fever

Step 2 (IMPORTANT) Specifically focus your topic to at least ONE public health effect or disease PUBLIC HEALTH EFFECT: DENGUE FEVER.

Step 3: (IMPORTANT) Choose ONE geographic region or Country or area/location. AREA LOCATION: FLORIDA.

Step 4: Identify the underlying climatic CAUSE(S) of this problem and list the pathway(s) leading to this problem.

Step 5: Focus on at least one public health response to addressing the problem.

Paper For Above Instructions

Climate change has emerged as a definitive threat to public health around the globe, with its impact felt in various sectors, including environmental, social, and economic realms. Significant amongst these multifaceted issues is the increase in vector-borne diseases, particularly those linked to altered mosquito ecologies. This paper focuses on how climate change influences the ecology of mosquitoes, leading to an increased risk of diseases such as dengue fever in Florida.

1. Introduction

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the dengue virus and poses a significant public health risk, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue has become endemic in over 100 countries, with increasing cases due to climate change (WHO, 2022). In Florida, the combination of warm temperatures, seasonal rainfall, and urbanization creates an ideal environment for Aedes mosquitoes, the primary vectors of dengue fever (CDC, 2023).

2. Climate Change and Mosquito Ecology

Climate change disrupts the ecological balance that governs mosquito populations. Warmer temperatures enhance the reproduction rates of mosquitoes, while increased rainfall creates ideal breeding conditions in stagnant water (Gubler, 2011). As a result, the population density of Aedes mosquitoes is expected to rise, leading to a higher incidence of dengue fever (López et al., 2019). Factors such as humidity also play a crucial role, as mosquitoes thrive in environments with elevated humidity levels, which climate change is expected to exacerbate.

3. Identifying the Climatic Causes

The primary climatic causes behind the increasing incidence of dengue fever in Florida include higher average temperatures, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and altered precipitation patterns. Higher temperatures not only shorten the lifecycle of mosquitoes, allowing them to reproduce faster, but they also expand the geographic range of these vectors (Parmesan & Yohe, 2003). Furthermore, the increasing severity of storms and flooding in Florida leads to more stagnant water, which provides fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes (Rogers & Randles, 2006).

4. Public Health Impact of Dengue Fever

The public health impact of rising dengue fever cases in Florida is profound. Symptoms often include severe headaches, rash, and high fever, which can escalate to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, potentially leading to death (Messina et al., 2019). The economic burden associated with dengue also strains healthcare systems, which must allocate more resources for prevention and treatment efforts.

5. Public Health Responses

Addressing the problem of increased dengue fever cases requires a multifaceted public health response, combining both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

5.1 Climate Mitigation Strategies

Climate mitigation focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. In Florida, transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind can significantly reduce carbon emissions (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2020). Additionally, improving energy efficiency in buildings and promoting public transportation can minimize urban heat islands, which contribute to rising local temperatures.

5.2 Climate Adaptation and Resilience

Adaptation involves preparing for the effects of climate change that are already unavoidable. In the context of dengue fever, public health officials in Florida can implement enhanced surveillance programs to monitor mosquito populations and track dengue cases effectively. Community education programs can also increase awareness of dengue prevention strategies, such as removing standing water and using mosquito repellents (Florida Health, 2022).

Moreover, governments can invest in infrastructure improvements, such as better drainage systems, to reduce stagnant water accumulation (MacKenzie et al., 2021). These proactive measures improve community resilience against climatic shocks and minimize the impact of dengue fever outbreaks.

6. Conclusion

The intersection of climate change and public health presents significant challenges, especially in regions like Florida where vector-borne diseases are on the rise. By focusing on the ecological impacts of climate change on mosquito populations and implementing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, public health officials can work towards reducing the incidence of dengue fever and enhancing community resilience. It is imperative that collaborative efforts persist between various sectors, including public health, urban planning, and environmental management, to address the evolving threats posed by climate change.

References

• CDC (2023). Dengue. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from [link]
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (2020). Florida's Climate Action Plan. State of Florida. Retrieved from [link]
• Florida Health (2022). Dengue Fever. Retrieved from [link]
• Gubler, D. J. (2011). "Environment, ecology, and the emergence of dengue fever." Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(6), A242-A243.
• López, A., et al. (2019). "Climate change and vector-borne diseases: A case study of dengue." Global Environmental Change, 55, 119-126.
• MacKenzie, J. S., et al. (2021). "Dengue fever and its impact on health systems." International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 104, 284-293.
• Messina, J. P., et al. (2019). "A global overview of dengue epidemiology." Nature Microbiology, 4(6), 1051-1061.
• Parmesan, C., & Yohe, G. (2003). "A globally coherent fingerprint of climate change impacts across natural systems." Nature, 421(6918), 37-42.
• Rogers, D. J., & Randles, J. (2006). "Climate change and the spread of vector-borne diseases." Science, 311(5768), 805-813.
• WHO (2022). Dengue and severe dengue. World Health Organization. Retrieved from [link]