Climate change is causing rising temperatures and changes in rainfall that can affect vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue in Antioquia, Colombia. Malaria is transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes in rural areas, while dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes in urban areas. Rising temperatures allow dengue vectors to thrive and spread to higher altitudes, increasing outbreaks. Even a small increase in temperature or rainfall can enhance transmission of these diseases. Other effects of climate change like heat waves may also increase cardiovascular events. The impacts of climate change on public health in Antioquia are significant and warming has already begun causing damage.

1. ANTIOQUIA FRENTE AL CAMBIO CLIMÁTICO
Articulo 4 English
Health
In the international community there is concern about how increases in
temperature and changes in rainfall by climate change may affect vector-borne
diseases and that these conditions are achieved settle new areas and proliferate.
As a tropical Antioquia department is a stage for many vector-borne diseases.
Specifically malaria and dengue can find new insofar spaces that accommodate
achieve vectors climatic changes. We must differentiate between the two diseases:
Malaria is caused by parasites (plasmodia) and dengue virus for four serotypes.
There are also differences between the two diseases: malaria is prevalent in rural
areas, and dengue in urban areas. The vectors are also different species of
mosquitoes are Anopheles transmit malaria, and the Aedes aeghypti responsible
for transmitting dengue.
Dengue vectors are as ideal for transmitting temperature 24 degrees Celsius, and
it is disturbing that a city as populous as Medellin is on the verge of reaching the
average temperature and thus promote greater presence of the vector and
increasing outbreaks disease.
Dengue has been characterized in recent years by a greater presence of mountain
watershed municipalities, because of the temperature rise. A municipality as
Fusagasugá, which before 1997 had no disease, today reported epidemics usually
up to three hundred cases.
The effects on malaria are more difficult to calculate by the very different social and
environmental factors involved, but it has been determined that only increases one
degree Celsius, as happened with the phenomenon of "El Niño", enhance the
transmission capacity vectors. It has also been established that hyperendemic
areas, increases the precipitation of only twenty percent are reflected in the
increase of traditional spikes disease.
Other harmful elements of climate change, such as heat waves recently supported
in Antioquia, may increase cardiovascular events.
The picture of global warming in Antioquia is quite worrying, really, the destruction
has begun.

2. Fuente: Revista Diners/ http://juntosantioquia-m001-m002.blogspot.com/p/cambio-climatico.html
Editado por Isabel Rivas