Long before the "germ theory" of disease was described, late in the nineteenth century, humans knew that climatic conditions influence the appearance and spread of epidemic diseases. Ancient notions about the effects of weather and climate on disease remain embedded in our collective consciousness-through expressions such as "cold" for rhinovirus infections; "malaria," derived from the Latin for "bad air;" and the common complaint of feeling "under the weather." Today, evidence is mounting that earth's climate is changing at a faster rate than previously appreciated, leading researchers to view the longstanding relationships between climate and disease with new urgency and from a global perspective. On December 4 and 5, 2007, the Forum on Microbial Threats hosted a public workshop in Washington, DC to consider the possible infectious disease impacts of global climate change and extreme weather events on human, animal, and plant health, as well as their expected implications for global and national security.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
Summary and Assessment
1 Climate Change Challenges
2 Climate, Ecology, and Infectious Disease
3 Historical, Scientific, and Technological Approaches to Studying the Climate-Disease Connection
4 Policy Implications of the Health Effects of Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
Appendix A: Agenda
Appendix B: Acronyms
Appendix C: Glossary
Appendix D: Forum Member Biographies