There is no doubt that climatic changes occur at a global level which could have a serious impact on infectious diseases in humans and animals. Global warming may directly influence the distribution of arthropod and rodent vectors expanding or shifting their habitats into new areas. Extreme weather conditions, in particular the frequency and duration of rainfalls, alter seasonal patterns of emergence and expansion of diseases. Basically every infectious disease with a seasonal pattern can be influenced by changes in climate. However, direct proof for the influence of climate change on a regional, national, supranational or global level on the emergence of new or frequency of established infections is difficult to obtain.
In this symposium, experts from the fields of climate research, human and veterinary medicine, and biology will present and discuss recent developments in the influence of climate changes on infectious diseases in men and animals. Besides presentations on the newest information about the extent and speed of climate change, major emphasis will be placed on the impact of climate change on vector populations and on the observed or predicted spread of infectious diseases and their effect on human and animal health.
Conference organizers:
Prof. Dr. B. Friedrich ML* (Berlin/Greifswald)
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. J. Hacker ML* (Berlin)
Prof. Dr. S. Hasnain ML* (Hyderabad)
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. T. C. Mettenleiter ML* (Insel Riems)
Scientific advisory board:
Prof. Dr. H. Aspöck ML* (Vienna)
Prof. Dr. J. Eckert ML* (Zurich)
Prof. Dr. B. Gottstein ML* (Berne) Prof. Dr. T. Hiepe ML* (Berlin)
An international conference organized by the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, National Academy of Sciences, Halle/Saale, the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, the Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, financially supported by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung, Essen, the German Research Foundation, Bonn, the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, and the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.