- CDC Water-related Diseases Program
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/water/ - CDC Food-borne Disease Outbreak Program
http://www.cdc.gov/foodborneoutbreaks/
Water- and food-borne diseases in the U.S. are caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The burden of disease from water- and food-borne pathogens is substantial. Experts estimate that annually there are more than 210 million cases, 900,000 associated hospitalizations, and 6,000 deaths. Several water- and food-borne diseases show seasonal patterns, suggesting that they are subject to environmental influences. Specific environmental influences have been documented for several specific pathogens. Environmental changes have effects on pathogen replication, survival, and persistent rates; transmission rates; and disease ranges overall.
Temperature and precipitation, both of which will increase with climate change, affect the spread of water- and food-borne diseases. In general, increased temperature results in higher pathogen replication, persistence, survival, and transmission for bacterial pathogens, and has mixed effects on viral pathogens but often reduces the overall transmission rate. Higher temperatures seem to produce a greater number of water- and food-borne parasitic infections, as well.
Overall, increased precipitation is associated with increased burdens of disease for bacteria, viruses, and parasites, though the causes of these increases differ by pathogen and ecologic setting.
The combined effects of increased temperature and precipitation are likely to worsen the burden of water- and food-borne disease in the US, though the magnitude of this effect is difficult to project with certainty. Confidence in projections for climate change’s effects on water- and food-borne disease is medium to high, depending on the specific relationship examined. Long-term disease surveillance, coupled with weather and climate data, are needed to establish historical relationships more firmly. Those relationships can then be used to project future trends under a changing climate.
Additional Information about Water- and Food-borne Disease
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A
Tel: (404) 639-3311 • CDC Contact Center: 800-CDC-INFO • 888-232-6348 (TTY)
