International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume 12, Issue 9, 2015, Pages 11025-11036

Infectious diseases, urbanization and climate change: Challenges in future China (Note) (Open Access)

Tong M.X. , Hansen A. , Hanson-Easey S. , Cameron S. , Xiang J. , Liu Q. , Sun Y. , Weinstein P. , Han G.-S. , Williams C. , Bi P.*
  • a School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
  • b School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
  • c School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
  • d School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
  • e School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
  • f State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, 102206, China
  • g Department of Epidemiology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
  • h School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaid, 5005, Australia
  • i Communications and Media Studies, School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University, Clayton, 3800, Australia
  • j Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, 5001, Australia
  • k School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia

Abstract

China is one of the largest countries in the world with nearly 20% of the world’s population. There have been significant improvements in economy, education and technology over the last three decades. Due to substantial investments from all levels of government, the public health system in China has been improved since the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak. However, infectious diseases still remain a major population health issue and this may be exacerbated by rapid urbanization and unprecedented impacts of climate change. This commentary aims to explore China’s current capacity to manage infectious diseases which impair population health. It discusses the existing disease surveillance system and underscores the critical importance of strengthening the system. It also explores how the growing migrant population, dramatic changes in the natural landscape following rapid urbanization, and changing climatic conditions can contribute to the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease. Continuing research on infectious diseases, urbanization and climate change may inform the country’s capacity to deal with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in the future. © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Author Keywords

Challenges Urbanization Infectious disease Climate change Disease surveillance Disease control and prevention

Index Keywords

China educational status human Communicable Diseases health status housing Note Clinical Competence Urbanization population growth environmental change disease surveillance investment technology migrant Humans economic development Epidemiological Monitoring health care manpower environmental factor landscape Climate change Communicable Diseases, Emerging Disease Outbreaks epidemic infection control severe acute respiratory syndrome government disease re-emergence infection public health health economics
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84941243712&doi=10.3390%2fijerph120911025&partnerID=40&md5=6267e52f6b1ccc45be92ff84d18c2196
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120911025
ISSN: 16617827
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English