Climate Change and Travel: Harmonizing to Abate Impact

AbstractPurpose of ReviewWith climate change being the single biggest health threat facing humanity, this review aims to identify the climate-sensitive health risks to the traveler and to recognize the role that travel plays in contributing to the detrimental effects of climate change. With this understanding, adaptations for transformational action can be made.Recent FindingsTravel and tourism, including transportation, food consumption, and accommodation, is responsible for a large percentage of the world ’s carbon emissions which is contributing to the climate change crisis at an alarming rate. Climate change is a health emergency that is resulting in a rise of significant health impacts to the traveler including increased heat illnesses; food-, water-, and vector-borne diseases; and increasing ri sk of exposure to emerging infectious diseases. Patterns of future travel and destination choices are likely to change due to climactic factors such as temperature and extreme weather events, forced migration, degradation, and disappearance of popular and natural tourist destinations.SummaryGlobal warming is and will continue to alter the landscape of travel medicine with expansion of transmission seasons and geographic ranges of disease, increased risk of infections and harmful marine toxins, and introduction of emerging infections to na ïve populations. This will have implications for pre-travel counseling in assessing risk and discussing the environmental influences on trav...
Source: Current Infectious Disease Reports - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research