Climate change
Changes in climate and climate variability directly affect the environment that provides us with clean air, food, water, shelter, and security, impacting Human health. Scientists project that the impacts of climate change will increase over the next century, specific existing health threats will intensify, and new health threats may emerge. Connecting our understanding of how climate is changing with how those changes may affect human health can inform decisions about mitigating (reducing) the amount of future climate change, suggest priorities for protecting public health, and help identify research needs.
Mathematical Models for Dengue Surveillance: Challenges and Opportunities
Major shifts in global warming and climate change have altered the distribution of some infectious diseases, particularly, vector-borne infectious diseases such as dengue and malaria. Dengue viruses spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes species (aedes aegypti or aedes albopictus) mosquito. Climate-related conditions ideal for dengue transmission from 1950 to 2018 have increased by 8% and 15% for aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus, respectively. In the US, most recent estimates of total vector-borne disease include 53,591 cases. The objective of this research proposal is three-fold: (1) Establish a multidisciplinary partnership between UC Davis and the University of Costa Rica, (2) Develop mathematical models and statistical tools that allow us to estimate (and predict) the risk of vector-borne transmission in the US and states at-risk of dengue outbreaks, and (3) Highlight the potential of the proposed methods for long-term utility, prevention, surveillance, and development of effective control interventions.
Wildfire Smoke Impact on Human Health
Warmer climates lead to drier conditions, providing ideal kindling for the rapid spread of fire. The dangers of intense fires pose economic and environmental losses, death, and severe health problems. The health hazards of smoke inhalation and the emotional strain of losing one’s possessions cause immense physical and emotional harm to the fire’s victims. Wildfires emit fine particles and ozone precursors that increase the risk of premature death and adverse chronic and acute cardiovascular and respiratory health outcomes. Research interest focuses on mathematical and statistical implementations to understand the correlation between smoke from fires and increases in respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations in California.