Environmental Rift: When Global Health Threats Become Local Concerns

Climate change is affecting how infectious diseases can migrate from other parts of the world and public health officials needs to be ready. 

As the global climate continues to change, previously inhospitable environments for infectious diseases are now, in some cases, a viable host and harbour. This reality has the potential to put communities at greater risk of complications from viruses that were not previously of concern. Mitigating the impact these changes can have on the health and wellness of residents will depend on education and prevention strategies that are implemented within the public health infrastructure, from the top down. This #MACoCon panel will look to forecast what some of the gravest threats are and how counties can be prepared.

Title: Environmental Rift: When Global Health Threats Become Local Concerns

Description: As communities learned from COVID-19, what happens globally can quickly become a local threat. Milder winters, warmer summers, and fewer frost days are making it easier for infectious diseases such as Lyme, West Nile, rabies, dengue, and salmonellosis to expand into new habitats and infect more people. Animals have been pushed from native areas due to development and climate changes, causing increased contact with humans. Higher temperatures in the air and water enable fungi and other disease-causing threats to grow, spread, and thrive, while developing even more resistance to existing medicines. Learn from this panel of experts about the public health threats counties should be most concerned with and how each jurisdiction can be prepared. Health Officers will share the latest information and provide prevention strategies for what lies ahead.

Speakers:

  • Gregory Branch, Health Officer, Baltimore County
  • Meena Brewster, Health Officer, St. Mary’s County

Date: Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: