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How human practices have affected vector-borne diseases in the past: a study of malaria transmission in Alpine valleys
- Source :
- Malaria Journal, Malaria Journal, BioMed Central, 2007, 6, pp.115. ⟨10.1186/1475-2875-6-115⟩, Malaria Journal, Vol 6, Iss 1, p 115 (2007)
- Publication Year :
- 2007
- Publisher :
- BioMed Central, 2007.
-
Abstract
- BackgroundMalaria was endemic in the Rhône-Alpes area of eastern France in the 19thcentury and life expectancy was particularly shortened in Alpine valleys. This study was designed to determine how the disease affected people in the area and to identify the factors influencing malaria transmission.MethodsDemographic data of the 19thcentury were collected from death registers of eight villages of the flood-plain of the river Isère. Correlations were performed between these demographic data and reconstructed meteorological data. Archive documents from medical practitioners gave information on symptoms of ill people. Engineer reports provided information on the hydraulic project developments in the Isère valley.ResultsDescription of fevers was highly suggestive of endemic malaria transmission in the parishes neighbouring the river Isère. The current status of anopheline mosquitoes in the area supports this hypothesis. Mean temperature and precipitation were poorly correlated with demographic data, whereas the chronology of hydrological events correlated with fluctuations in death rates in the parishes.ConclusionNowadays, most of the river development projects involve the creation of wet areas, enabling controlled flooding events. Flood-flow risk and the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases would probably be influenced by the climate change. The message is not to forget that human disturbance of any functioning hydrosystem has often been linked to malaria transmission in the past.
- Subjects :
- Rural Population
medicine.medical_specialty
lcsh:Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine
Endemic Diseases
Meteorological Concepts
lcsh:RC955-962
030231 tropical medicine
Climate change
Medical Records
lcsh:Infectious and parasitic diseases
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
parasitic diseases
medicine
Water Movements
Humans
lcsh:RC109-216
030212 general & internal medicine
Mortality
Socioeconomics
Ecosystem
Demography
Ecology
Mortality rate
Public health
Research
Flooding (psychology)
History, 19th Century
15. Life on land
medicine.disease
3. Good health
Malaria
Geography
Infectious Diseases
Disturbance (ecology)
13. Climate action
Vector (epidemiology)
Life expectancy
Parasitology
Environment Design
France
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14752875
- Volume :
- 6
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Malaria Journal
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....3aec81ff98f548b701ddc4366c19ef95