School of Public Health, The University of Queensland.
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland.
Aust N Z J Public Health. 2021 Apr;45(2):122-128. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13073. Epub 2021 Feb 1.
This research seeks to identify climate-sensitive infectious diseases of concern with a present and future likelihood of increased occurrence in the geographically vulnerable Torres Strait Islands, Australia. The objective is to contribute evidence to the need for adequate climate change responses.
Case data of infectious diseases with proven, potential and speculative climate sensitivity were compiled.
Five climate-sensitive diseases in the Torres Strait and Cape York region were identified as of concern: tuberculosis, dengue, Ross River virus, melioidosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. The region constitutes 0.52% of Queensland's population but has a disproportionately high proportion of the state's cases: 20.4% of melioidosis, 2.4% of tuberculosis and 2.1% of dengue.
The Indigenous Torres Strait Islander peoples intend to remain living on their traditional country long-term, yet climate change brings risks of both direct and indirect human health impacts. Implications for public health: Climate-sensitive infections pose a disproportionate burden and ongoing risk to Torres Strait Islander peoples. Addressing the causes of climate change is the responsibility of various agencies in parallel with direct action to minimise or prevent infections. All efforts should privilege Torres Strait Islander peoples' voices to self-determine response actions.
本研究旨在确定与托雷斯海峡群岛（澳大利亚）地理位置脆弱性相关的具有当前和未来增加发生可能性的气候敏感传染性疾病。目的是为需要充分应对气候变化提供证据。
编制了具有明确、潜在和推测气候敏感性的传染病病例数据。
托雷斯海峡和约克角地区确定了五种需要关注的气候敏感疾病：肺结核、登革热、罗斯河病毒、类鼻疽和非结核分枝杆菌感染。该地区占昆士兰州人口的 0.52%，但该州的病例比例过高：类鼻疽占 20.4%，肺结核占 2.4%，登革热占 2.1%。
托雷斯海峡岛民原住民打算长期留在他们的传统土地上，但气候变化带来了直接和间接的人类健康影响的风险。对公共卫生的影响：气候敏感感染对托雷斯海峡岛民原住民造成了不成比例的负担和持续的风险。应对气候变化的原因是各个机构的共同责任，同时还需要采取直接行动来最小化或预防感染。所有努力都应优先考虑托雷斯海峡岛民的声音，让他们自行决定应对行动。
