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Home > Projects
Synopsis of Known and Potential Diseases of Humans and Animals Related to Climate Change – a 2002 report for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
This report was prepared in 2002 for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, with funding from the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario. Collaborators included Health Canada, University of Guelph, and the Network for Ecosystem Sustainability & Health (NESH).
Climate change is expected to impact the health and well-being of people and other animals in Ontario. For example, increased temperature and modified precipitation patterns could result in the changes to the ranges of vector-borne diseases and water and food-borne diseases. However, given that few studies have been completed on the impacts of parasites and diseases on the health and well-being of plants and animals in a changing climate, it will be difficult to plan and manage for related impacts in Ontario.
In addition to long-term warming trends and associated changes to precipitation regimes, severe weather events could also pose an increased threat to plants and animals in Ontario. For example, extreme weather events can cause contamination of water systems and create breeding sites for insects or favourable conditions for rodents that may carry disease.
The 1999-2002 rapid spread of West Nile Virus, although mediated through complex ecological and social changes, may well be linked to changes in weather patterns. Clearly, the known and potential impacts of climate change on the health and well-being of animals and plants in Ontario are significant. Working to understand and monitor parasites and diseases is an important part of Ontario's work to manage for climate change impacts.
Collating existing data with expert opinion, this report provides a synoptic overview of known and potential diseases and parasites of people and other animals in Ontario, as well as known control and management tools and techniques.
| Timeline | Start Date: April 2002 End Date: December 2002 |
| Team | David Waltner-Toews Dept. of Population Medicine, University of Guelph
Dominique Charron
Abdel Maarouf
Marg Stalker
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| Funding | Health Canada, University of Guelph, and the Network for Ecosystem Sustainability & Health Funded by the Agricultural Research Institute of Ontario |
| Collaborators | The project team would like to acknowledge the support of:
Health Canada
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| Publications | This report is available as Forest Research Information Paper No.154, published by the Ontario Forest Research Institute. Cette publication scientifique n'est disponible qu'en anglais.
ISSN: 0319-9118; no. 154 A Synopsis of Known and Potential Diseases and Parasites Associated with Climate Change Compiled by Sylvia Greifenhagen & Thomas L. Noland, 2003 Single copies of this publication are available from:
Ontario Forest Research Institute Bibliographic references for individual sections of report: Charron, D., D. Waltner-Toews, A. Maarouf and M. Stalker. 2003. A synopsis of known and potential diseases and parasites of humans and animals associated with climate change. In Griefenhagen, S. and T.L. Noland (comps.). A synopsis of known and potential diseases and parasites associated with climate change. Ont. Min. Nat. Resour., Ont. For. Res. Inst., Sault Ste. Marie, ON. For. Res. Info. Pap. No. 154. 200 p. Boland, G.J., V. Higgins, A. Hopkin, A. Nasuth and N.S. Melzer. 2003. Climate change and plant disease in Ontario. In Griefenhagen, S. and T.L. Noland (comps.). A synopsis of known and potential diseases and parasites associated with climate change. Ont. Min. Nat. Resour., Ont. For. Res. Inst., Sault Ste. Marie, ON. For. Res. Info. Pap. No. 154. 200 p. MNR Popular Summary (PDF file) MNR Full Report (179 Pages) --PDF File
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