Abstract
BackgroundDespite its largely mountainous terrain for which this Himalayan country is a popular tourist destination, Nepal is now endemic for five major vector-borne diseases (VBDs), namely malaria, lymphatic filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, visceral leishmaniasis and dengue fever. There is increasing evidence about the impacts of climate change on VBDs especially in tropical highlands and temperate regions. Our aim is to explore whether the observed spatiotemporal distributions of VBDs in Nepal can be related to climate change.MethodologyA systematic literature search was performed and summarized information on climate change and the spatiotemporal distribution of VBDs in Nepal from the published literature until December2014 following providing items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.Principal FindingsWe found 12 studies that analysed the trend of climatic data and are relevant for the study of VBDs, 38 studies that dealt with the spatial and temporal distribution of disease vectors and disease transmission. Among 38 studies, only eight studies assessed the association of VBDs with climatic variables. Our review highlights a pronounced warming in the mountains and an expansion of autochthonous cases of VBDs to non-endemic areas including mountain regions (i.e., at least 2,000 m above sea level). Furthermore, significant relationships between climatic variables and VBDs and their vectors are found in short-term studies.ConclusionTaking into account the weak health care systems and difficult geographic terrain of Nepal, increasing trade and movements of people, a lack of vector control interventions, observed relationships between climatic variables and VBDs and their vectors and the establishment of relevant disease vectors already at least 2,000 m above sea level, we conclude that climate change can intensify the risk of VBD epidemics in the mountain regions of Nepal if other non-climatic drivers of VBDs remain constant.
Highlights
According to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average warming of the global mean surface temperature was 0.85°C [0.65–1.06°C] over the period of 1880 to 2012 [1]
Despite its largely mountainous terrain for which this Himalayan country is a popular tourist destination, Nepal is endemic for five major vector-borne diseases (VBDs), namely malaria, lymphatic filariasis, Japanese encephalitis, visceral leishmaniasis and dengue fever
We found 12 studies that analysed the trend of climatic data and are relevant for the study of VBDs, 38 studies that dealt with the spatial and temporal distribution of disease vectors and disease transmission
Summary
According to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the average warming of the global mean surface temperature was 0.85°C [0.65–1.06°C] over the period of 1880 to 2012 [1]. The rate of warming in the Himalayas has been reported to have been much greater (0.06°C/year) than the global average in the last three decades indicating that the Himalayas are more sensitive and vulnerable to global climate change than other areas of the earth [2]. As the published literature continues to focus on the effects of climate change in developed countries, the effects on the most-vulnerable populations residing in least developed and developing countries are underreported [3]. Several challenges for conducting climate change and health research in developing mountainous countries have been reported. These include a lack of trained human resources, financial resources, long-term data and information, and suitable methods that are applicable to the local context [6]. Our aim is to explore whether the observed spatiotemporal distributions of VBDs in Nepal can be related to climate change
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
