Although it is commonly accepted that climate change will increase the range and abundance of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through increased rainfall and temperature, the role of soil and influence of soil health on this effect is not well understood. We propose that understanding the influence of climate change on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soils can explain how favourable environmental conditions for NTDs and vectors of NTDs to reproduce form. This, in turn, can assist local public health experts in predicting and managing the spread of NTDs. We also suggest that unlike unpredictable climatic factors, soil health can be directly managed through appropriate land use practices. This viewpoint seeks to start a discussion between soil scientists and healthcare professionals on how to achieve common goals and strategies required to manage the spread of NTDs.
BT - PLoS neglected tropical diseases C1 -https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37319129
DA - 06/2023 DO - 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011378 IS - 6 J2 - PLoS Negl Trop Dis LA - eng M3 - Viewpoints N2 -Although it is commonly accepted that climate change will increase the range and abundance of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through increased rainfall and temperature, the role of soil and influence of soil health on this effect is not well understood. We propose that understanding the influence of climate change on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soils can explain how favourable environmental conditions for NTDs and vectors of NTDs to reproduce form. This, in turn, can assist local public health experts in predicting and managing the spread of NTDs. We also suggest that unlike unpredictable climatic factors, soil health can be directly managed through appropriate land use practices. This viewpoint seeks to start a discussion between soil scientists and healthcare professionals on how to achieve common goals and strategies required to manage the spread of NTDs.
PY - 2023 SP - 1 EP - 5 T2 - PLoS neglected tropical diseases TI - Effects of climate change on soil health resulting in an increased global spread of neglected tropical diseases. UR - https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0011378&type=printable VL - 17 SN - 1935-2735 ER -