Vector Volume 11 Issue 1 - 2017

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The people of Kiribati are said to be the most vulnerable to the implications of climate change because of the close proximity of the inhabitants to the coastal regions of their islands. The ENSO effect is characterised by irregular warming of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, and is responsible for raising average temperatures and inducing higher rainfall in the Asia Pacific region. Kiribati itself is only two metres above sea level, and so faces challenges in this domain. This is a very significant issue for cooler regions where there is limited experience or resistance to vectorborne infectious diseases.[3] Vector-borne diseases have many factors at play, such as host resistance, the environment, urbanisation and the pathogens themselves. The severity and prevalence of vector-borne diseases depends heavily on the climate, and thus directly correlates with the ENSO climate cycles. Temperature, rainfall and humidity are especially important concerns for vectorborne diseases.[4] According to the ‘The Sting of Climate Change’ report, ‘warmer conditions allow the mosquitoes and the malaria parasite itself to develop and grow more quickly, while wetter conditions let mosquitoes live longer and breed more prolifically’.[5] There is an overall increase in the potential for disease transmission due to the change in the ecology of vectors. This is characterised by quicker mosquito breeding cycle (thus, higher concentrations), increased biting rates, and shortened pathogen incubation periods.[6] If rainfall is excessive, pooled water can form, which creates breeding sites for mosquito larvae. There are many factors that operate in these scenarios, and so there is no one direct link between climate and mosquito populations. For both dengue and malaria, some of the most effective control measures to reduce the burden are long-lasting insecticidal bednets, indoor residual spraying with insecticides, seasonal malaria chemo-prevention, intermittent preventive treatment for infants and during pregnancy, prompt diagnostic testing, and treatment of confirmed cases with effective anti-malarial medicines.[7] These measures have dramatically lowered malaria disease burden in many Pacific Islander settings over the years. Thus, prevention is limited to vectorcontrol measures, which are very difficult to monitor. Visiting Kiribati gave me insight into the reality of climate change and its current impacts on health. It is clear that there is a distinct connection between climate change and vector-borne diseases. This poses particular challenges for developing nations where consequences of climate change are most pronounced. My experiences in Kiribati showed us raw, personal stories, and we strongly believe it is imperative to take action immediately. Acknowledgements None Conflict of Interest None declared Correspondence e.longhurst1012@gmail.com References 1. Reiter P. Climate change and mosquito-borne disease. Environmental health perspectives; 2011. 141 p. 121 2. Ebi KL, Lewis ND, Corvalan C. Climate variability and change and their potential health effects in small island states: information for adaptation planning in the health sector. Environmental Health Perspectives; 2006, 1957-1963 p. 3. Haines A, McMichael AJ, Epstein PR. Environment and health: 2. Global climate change and health. Canadian Medical Association Journal; 2006, 729-734 p. 4. Woodruff R, Whetton P, Hennessy K, Nicholls N, Hales S, Woodward A, Kjellstrom, T, Human health and climate change in Oceania: a risk assessment. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing; 2003. 5. Perry M. Malaria and dengue the sting in climate change. Reuters; 2008. Available from: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climate-diseaseidUSTRE4AJ2RQ20081120 6. Bezirtzoglou C, Dekas K, Charvalos E. Climate changes, environment and infection: Facts, scenarios and growing awareness from the public health community within Europe. Anaerobe; 2011, 2 p. 7. Githeko AK, Lindsay SW, Confalonieri UE, Patz JA. Climate change and vector-borne diseases: a regional analysis. Bulletin of the World Health Organization; 2000. 1136-1147 p. 9
REFUGEE AND ASYLUM SEEKER UPDATE MARCH 2017 I MPORTANT UPDATE • The Immigration Department reduced the deadline asylum seekers must apply for protection visas from 1 year to 60 days. 1 • Affects thousands of asylum seekers. 1 • Those who don’t make the deadline may have their claim overturned giving them no right to work or medicare 1 • These applications are up to 60 pages long with complex medical terms in English, requiring legal advice for completion, overloading already saturated legal services 1 • IHMS, contracted to provide primary health care + mental health services on Manus Island and Nauru has been found to be not registered by the PNG medical board. 2 - Therefore, 103 staff working at the centre have been employed illegally. 2 • Recent Dengue outbreak on Nauru (late Feb). 3 Infecting 70 people on Nauru including 10 refugee and asylum seekers. - Unconfirmed reports up to 8 asylum seeker medevaced to Australia mainland for treatment. 3 • Young male asylum seeker on Manus Island flown to Australia for treatment 9th Feb following long standing series of doctors referring the man to get a pacemaker since August 2016. 4 - The man collapsed Feb 1 and was finally transferred. This is another example, just like that of Faysal Ahmed, of complaints being ignored for a long time 4 • Amnesty International released a report labelling Australia’s offshore detention policy as inhuman and abusive 5 o o Highlights governments refusal to honour offer from NZ to resettle 150 refugees and asylum seekers 5 Treatment of these people involves systematic neglect and cruelty designed to inflict suffering 5 1 Hart, C. (2017, February 26). Asylum seekers’ applications doomed to fail after visa deadline changes, says refugee support service. ABC news. Retrieved from www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-26/asylum-seekers-issued-with-new-deadline-for-visa-applications/8304766 2 Armstrong, K. (2017, March 3). Manus Island health provider ‘operating illegally for three years’: report. SBS news. Retrieved from http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/02/manus-island-health-provider-operating-illegally-three-years-report 3 Riman, I. (2017, February 28). A physical attack and a Dengue-fever outbreak cause fear among Nauru detainees. SBS news. Retrieved from http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/arabic/en/article/2017/02/28/physical-attack-and-dengue-fever-outbreak-cause-fear-among-nauru-detainees 4 Booth, A. (2017, February 12). Manus Island asylum seeker with cardiac condition flown to Australia. SBS news. Retrieved from http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/02/17/manus-island-asylum-seeker-cardiac-condition-flown-australia 5 Jama, H. (2017, February 23). Amnesty critical of Australia’s asylum seeker policy. SBS news. Retrieved from http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/somali/en/content/amnesty-critical-australias-asylum-seeker-policy 6 Feng, L. (2017, March 8). Hungary toughens laws on asylum seekers again. SBS news. Retrieved from: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/03/08/hungary-toughens-laws-asylum-seekers-again 7 Picture: Deacon, L. (2017, February 10). Migrants entering Hungary to be detained in shipping containers on border. Retrieved from http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/02/10/migrants-entering-hungary-detained-shipping-containers-border/ 10
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Vector Volume 11 Issue 1 - 2017

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