ECDC: on Air - Episode 76 - A. Kaźmierczak & C. Gossner - Not Just A Hotter Summer

Climate change is already affecting our health, often in ways we don't realise. Beyond hotter summers and more frequent heatwaves, it is creating conditions that allow some infectious diseases to spread, extending allergy seasons and increasing health risks linked to extreme weather. In this episode of ECDC: On Air, Dr Celine Gossner, Deputy Head of Unit for One Health-related Diseases at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), expert in food, water, vector-borne and zoonotic diseases, and Aleksandra Kaźmierczak - Expert in Climate Change and Human Health at the European Environment Agency (EEA), discuss how a changing climate is reshaping health across Europe. From the spread of mosquitoes and ticks into new regions to the growing risks of food- and water-borne diseases, they explain how climate change is affecting infectious disease risks. They also explore the wider health impacts of rising temperatures, floods, wildfires, air pollution and changing pollen seasons, and why these changes are already affecting communities today, not just future generations. The conversation also looks at how Europe is preparing for climate-sensitive health threats through climate adaptation, surveillance, early warning systems and cross-sector collaboration, while highlighting practical steps individuals can take to protect themselves. ----- In this episode: Why climate change is a public health issue How climate change is affecting infectious disease risks Mosquito-borne diseases, tick-borne diseases and Vibrio infections Heatwaves, floods, wildfires and respiratory health The European Climate and Health Observatory How Europe is preparing for climate-sensitive health threats What individuals can do to reduce health risks ----- Links: Latest ECDC news on heatwaves and health: https://bit.ly/ECDCHeatwaves ECDC's guide to a safe summer: https://bit.ly/ECDCSafeSummer ----- Learn more: 🏠 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/ 🏠 European Environment Agency (EEA): https://www.eea.europa.eu/ 🏠 European Climate and Health Observatory: https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/e... ----- Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to climate change and health in Europe 04:53 - The changing geography of infectious diseases in Europe 06:21 - Key climate-sensitive infectious diseases to watch 07:54 - Current impacts of climate change on health in Europe 09:01 - Challenges in predicting and managing climate-related health risks 09:57 - European Observatory on Climate Change and Health initiatives 11:27 - European preparedness for climate-sensitive infectious diseases 12:25 - Individual actions to reduce health risks from climate change 13:09 - Role of sectors outside health in climate adaptation 14:27 - Key takeaways: acting early to protect health from climate change ----- #ClimateChange #ClimateAndHealth #PublicHealth #ECDC #Heatwaves