Potential impacts of global warming and climate change on the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases in Canada.

Global climate change may add to the risk of infectious diseases faced by Canadians. A warmer climate may permit the northward expansion of certain disease reservoir animal hosts and vectors increasing the risk to Canadians from zoonotic diseases, i.e., diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans. A shorter, less severe winter would prolong the transmission season for many existing Canadian zoonoses, and could allow previously exotic zoonoses that enter Canada to become established. Significant challenges to epidemiological forecasting arise from complex interactions among climatic factors, zoonotic disease agents, other infectious agents, underlying human health and immunity, socio-economic factors, and ecological parameters. Public health officials and health care providers need to be kept informed of the changing nature of zoonotic disease risk in order to be vigilant in the early detection of disease, and to plan to respond to new or increased health risks. Surveillance and public education will also help protect Canadians from any additional zoonotic health risks of climate change.