Almost one hundred insect-borne infections identified in 2023

The impact climate change has on our daily lives is evident in heatwaves or extreme events such as heavy rainfall or large fires. increasingly repeated in Navarre. But the climate crisis and global warming They also cause changes in ecosystems and the species living in them, which in turn have consequences. on people’s health.

That’s what they focused on Tuesday. several Navarrese experts at the climate change conference took place at the College of Doctorsin which they warned that the climate crisis contributes to the spread of species such as the tiger mosquito or ticks in Navarre.which transmit diseases such as dengue, Lyme or Mediterranean spotted fever. In fact, they were discovered in the Foral community last year. almost a hundred infections transmitted by insects.

In accordance with latest newsletter of the Institute of Public and Professional Health of Navarra (ISPLN), diseases transmitted through tick bites – Lyme disease and Mediterranean spotted fever – Navarre has seen significant growth in recent years. Estrella Michelesresponsible for the Health Area of ​​the Life-NAdapta project, a strategy promoted by the regional government to adapt to climate change, clarified that “There is no single factor” this explains the increase in the number of cases, but noted that “Increasing temperatures lead to an increase in the number of ticks”. “Now people are also traveling to the countryside more often and are more in touch with nature. There is no single cause, but climate change is certainly a factor,” Micheles said.

On the other hand, cases of diseases transmitted by tiger mosquitoes have been reported in Navarre. –dengue and chikungunya– They did not become infected in the Foral community, but rather They were imported from countries where these infections are endemic, that is, imported cases. However, the presence of this species in Navarre is expanding year after year. which is also associated with an increase in temperature.

“Tiger Mosquito” It is established in the north of the community, its presence has also been detected in the areas of Pamplona, ​​Tudela and Sangueza.“said the expert, who recalled that last April, public health launched a new Tiger Mosquito Surveillance Plan campaign. In fact, the director of the Institute of Public Health, Marian Nuinwho also participated in the conference stated that “A tick action and prevention plan will be published soon.which will be similar to what already exists with the tiger mosquito.”

Temperature increase

These disease-transmitting species are scientifically known as disease carriers – mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, rats, etc. – and their presence in Navarre may increase in light of the progress of global warming. Meteorologist Peyo Oriyauntil recently delegate Aemet in NavarreYesterday it was reported that the number of days with temperatures above 30 degrees “has doubled in recent years.” “7 of the 12 hottest days in the last 50 years in Navarre were recorded in the last two summers. 2022 and 2023 were the hottest years since records began,” Oriya said.

There are many factors behind climate change, but their origins, he noted, is the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. “The atmospheric CO2 load is the highest it has been in 10 million years,” he said. “We have another serious problem. This is a planetary energy imbalance, the balance between the energy entering the Earth and that which leaves, which is significantly lower. This century, the difference between the energy coming into the Earth and the energy the planet emits has tripled. This will ensure high levels of global warming in the coming decades,” he warned.

Actions from Navarre

These changes occurring in the climate have direct consequences for public health, and to prevent these impacts and adapt to this climate crisis, the regional government has promoted Project Life-Nadapta which has European funding and is valid until 2025. Miguel Angel Gonzaleztechnician at the Department of the Environment, emphasized that as part of this strategy 53 promotions were launched in various areas, Among them are the flood plans developed in 17 communities, the promotion of new sustainable urbanism, the restoration of endangered species (such as the chestnut) or the tiger mosquito monitoring plan.