Climate Change and the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases in the United States.

The earth is rapidly warming, driven by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide and other gases that result primarily from fossil fuel combustion. In addition to causing arctic ice melting and extreme weather events, climatologic factors are linked strongly to the transmission of many infectious diseases. Changes in the prevalence of infectious diseases not only reflect the impacts of temperature, humidity, and other weather-related phenomena on pathogens, vectors, and animal hosts but are also part of a complex of social and environmental factors that will be affected by climate change, including land use, migration, and vector control. Vector- and waterborne diseases and coccidioidomycosis are all likely to be affected by a warming planet; there is also potential for climate-driven impacts on emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. Additional resources for surveillance and public health activities are urgently needed, as well as systematic education of clinicians on the health impacts of climate change.
Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. R. H. reports serving as a part-time consultant for the Medical Society Consortium for Climate and Health. P. J. E. reports payment for expert testimony for the Andrews Law Group, Tampa, FL. R. C. L. reports grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC; U01-CK000633), royalties for chapters from UpToDate, providing editorial services for the CDC Foundation, and is a board member for Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.
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