Impact of Climate Change on Parasitic liver Diseases in Africa

Abstract

Climate change is already a reality in Africa. Many countries across Africa are classified as Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) with poor socio-economic conditions and by implication are faced with particular challenges in responding to the impacts of climate change. African countries have the least efficient public health systems in the world. Infectious disease burdens, which are sensitive to climate impacts, are highest in the sub-Saharan African region. Changes in climate will affect the spread of infectious agents as well as alter people’s disposition to these infections Climate change has the capability to drive parasitic disease incidence and prevalence worldwide. There are both direct and indirect implications of climate change on the scope and distribution of parasitic organisms and their associated vectors and host species. Currently there is lack of reviews in the literature addressing comprehensively the impact of climate change on the prevalence of parasitic liver disease in Africa. The aim of the current review is to discuss the impact of climate change on parasitic liver disease in Africa, and to detect the gaps in the research done in this field. This review is discussing the impact of climate change on some common parasitic liver diseases in Africa regarding the spread of infectious agents and the liver diseases caused by them. Conclusion: Evidences showed that climate change; including rise in ambient temperature, disturbance of rainfall, water safety, and ecological changes, leads to change in the expansion of vectors or reservoirs of infection and the burden of parasitic infections in endemic areas in Africa. In addition to the effect of man-made construction of irrigation schemes are also responsible for continued transmission of some parasitic diseases in African countries.