Climate Change, Vector-borne Disease and Interdisciplinary Research: Social Science Perspectives on an Environment and Health Controversy

Abstract

Over the last two decades, the science of climate change's theoretical impacts on vector-borne disease has generated controversy related to its methodological validity and relevance to disease control policy. Critical social science analysis, drawing on science and technology studies and the sociology of social movements, demonstrates consistency between this controversy and the theory that climate change is serving as a collective action frame for some health researchers. Within this frame, vector-borne disease data are interpreted as a symptom of climate change, with the need for further interdisiplinary research put forth as the logical and necessary next step. Reaction to this tendency on the part of a handful of vector-borne disease specialists exhibits characteristics of academic boundary work aimed at preserving the integrity of existing disciplinary boundaries. Possible reasons for this conflict include the leadership role for health professionals and disciplines in the envisioned interdiscipline, and disagreements over the appropriate scale of interventions to control vector-borne diseases. Analysis of the competing frames in this controversy also allows identification of excluded voices and themes, such as international political economic explanations for the health problems in question. A logical conclusion of this analysis, therefore, is the need for critical reflection on environment and health research and policy to achieve integration with considerations of global health equity.

Climate as the Early Warning of Outbreaks of Leptospirosis in the District of Sampang Madura Island Indonesia

“…So that, cases of leptospirosis erupted in February-March (because seasonal patterns including rainy season) are supported by the presence of water logging and flooding. These conditions resulted in environmental sanitation and residential housing decline, so, cases of leptospirosis soared and caused an outbreak of leptospirosis [5,9,10].…”

“…In addition, because data on suspected cases of leptospirosis and humidity factor season is only for 1 year in 2013, it leds to a detailed analysis of the relationship less. Humidity can affect the activity of mice in both the day and night to transmit diseases including leptospirosis [5,9,10].…”

“…Rodent rest in a dark place and protected from the sun for reproductive activities, as well as in the habit of putting up food for the group [4,5,9].…”

“…People search (active case detection) leptospirosis prevention and control rat as the main transmitters do not yet optimal. Leptospirosis has aspects of climate and epidemiology in its incidence [1,5,6]. …”

Urban governance and the systems approaches to health-environment co-benefits in cities

“…Attributes of the built environment in cities generate micro-environmental conditions that can generate unique risks in conjunction with climate change -for example, urban heat islands act synergistically with more frequent and intense heat waves to enhance health risks from thermal stress 17 , and urban agriculture or green space can generate risk for vector-borne diseases 18,19,20 , which may themselves undergo geographic expansion with a warming climate 21 . In a similar vein, the byproducts of urban activity (e.g., air pollution) can act in synergy with climatic factors to enhance health risks (e.g., allergic respiratory ailments) 22,23 .…”