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Paulo Lázaro Ortíz Bultó,¹ Antonio Pérez Rodríguez,² Alina Rivero Valencia,¹ Nicolás León Vega,³ Manuel Díaz Gonzalez,² and Alina Pérez Carrera³

¹Climate Center, Institute of Meteorology, Havana, Cuba; ²Tropical Medicine Institute "Pedro Kourí," Havana, Cuba; ³Vector Control Department, Ministry of Public Health for Cuba, Havana, Cuba

Abstract
In this study we assessed the potential effects of climate variability and change on population health in Cuba. We describe the climate of Cuba as well as the patterns of climate-sensitive diseases of primary concern, particularly dengue fever. Analyses of the associations between climatic anomalies and disease patterns highlight current vulnerability to climate variability. We describe current adaptations, including the application of climate predictions to prevent disease outbreaks. Finally, we present the potential economic costs associated with future impacts due to climate change. The tools used in this study can be useful in the development of appropriate and effective adaptation options to address the increased climate variability associated with climate change. Key words: climate change, climate indices, climate variability, human health, impacts. Environ Health Perspect 114:1942–1949 (2006) . doi:10.1289/ehp.8434 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 11 July 2006]

This article is part of the mini-monograph "Climate Change and Human Health: National Assessments of Impacts and Adaptation."

Address correspondence to P.L. Ortíz Bultó, Carretera del Asilo, S/N. Ciudad de La Habana. Cuba. CP 11700. Apartado 17032. Telephone: (537) 867-0718. Fax: (537) 866-8010 or (537) 867-0710. E-mail: paulo@met.inf.cu or bulto01@yahoo.com

We gratefully acknowledge K.L. Ebi for her assistance and professional help in the preparation of this manuscript and her comments that helped to improve this article. We also thank F. Dickinson for review and suggestions.

This project (SGP-037) was funded by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research.

The authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

Received 17 June 2005 ; accepted 30 May 2006.