New tools to combat climate-related diseases in Europe

Climate change is one of several driving forces behind recurring disease outbreaks and the geographical expansion of infectious diseases in Europe. The research team at IDAlert has developed collaborative indicators and decision support tools.

The tools are designed to comprehensively track and forecast climate-related disease risks across various domains, including environmental risks, exposure patterns and vulnerability factors. With a strong focus on the relationship between animals, people and the environment, the framework creates a comprehensive perspective on challenges.

The tools are as follows:

· Indicators of how climate change affects infectious diseases. They should be used at EU level to follow developments in different locations, as well as to communicate the need to adapt to these risks.

· A risk forecasting platform based on near-term climate information, i.e. from weeks to months. This platform can be used to consider the need for near-term action.

· Develop the use of mosquito and tick reporting applications. It provides a new channel for monitoring and has been shown on several occasions to contribute to early detection in new locations.

· Modeling tools with different scenarios, including climate, to support long-term policy and decision-making.

“Current and effective preparedness”

As part of the project, the researchers presented the proposals in an article in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe. Lead author and IDAlert project coordinator Joachim Rockloff highlights the following possibilities:

– Our decision support tools provide a multidimensional perspective that transcends traditional silos. In this way, we are building a more comprehensive understanding of disease dynamics, creating the necessary conditions for more modern and effective outbreak preparedness. The Framework gives decision-makers, healthcare professionals and communities opportunities to reduce risks and strengthen Europe’s capacity to respond to health crises, even in the face of changing environmental conditions.

The article is in The Lancet Regional Health