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Climate Change and the European Water Dimension - Agri ...

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Table VI.E.1. <strong>Water</strong>borne pathogens <strong>and</strong> related health risk<br />

Health risk Pathogen<br />

Arthritis Campylobacter, Salmonella, Giardia<br />

Aseptic meningitis<br />

Coxsackievirus, new Enterovirus type 68<br />

to 71<br />

Cancer, peptic ulcer Helicobacter pylori<br />

Cholera Vibrio cholerae<br />

Diarrhea <strong>and</strong><br />

gastroenteritis<br />

Enterovirus, Norwalk virus, calicivirus,<br />

rotavirus, E. coli O157 Criptosporidium,<br />

Salmonella, Giardia<br />

Heart disease<br />

Coxsackievirus B, Legionella<br />

pneumophila<br />

Diabetes Coxsackievirus B<br />

Kidney failure Hepatitis A virus, Legionella pneumophila<br />

Liver failure Hepatitis E virus<br />

Wound infection Vibrio<br />

Currently, <strong>the</strong> level of underst<strong>and</strong>ing of <strong>the</strong> linkages between water diseases <strong>and</strong><br />

climate is lower than that for vector-borne diseases. Although <strong>the</strong> doomsday scenario<br />

in <strong>the</strong> thriller film The Day After Tomorrow may be far from reality, it is clear that<br />

climate is changing, challenging <strong>the</strong> health sector <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole of human society.<br />

An interdisciplinary analysis, <strong>and</strong> integrated prevention planning are m<strong>and</strong>atory.<br />

Ma<strong>the</strong>matical modeling of infectious diseases, (e.g. waterborne, vector-borne) in<br />

relation to climate is at <strong>the</strong> first stage to identify <strong>the</strong> key environmental <strong>and</strong> climate<br />

parameters associated with disease variability. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, how many potential<br />

pathogens are sharing this planet with us, awaiting <strong>the</strong> right conditions for <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

chance at stardom by becoming an emerging infectious disease?<br />

201

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