LaVerne E. Ragster, Ph.D. 5 th Annual Health Disparities Institute Caribbean Exploratory Research (NIMHD) Center University of the Virgin Islands

10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute2 Climate change : A long-term shift in the average weather  of a location, region or planet  measured by features such as temperature, wind patterns and precipitation  includes a change in the variability of climate

10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute3

 Increased Temperatures  Droughts and Flooding  Sea Level Rise  More Severe Storms and Hurricanes  Ocean Acidification 10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute4

Transportation Health Society Energy Agriculture Ecosystems Water 10/18/2012

Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute6

Climate Change could be Hazardous to your Health 10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute7

 Loss of food production malnutrition  Increased incidence of Dengue Fever & DHF  Respiratory illnesses, asthma  Heat related illnesses (stroke, heat rash)  Ciguatera 10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute8

 Malaria  Respiratory Tract Infections  Leptospirosis  Diarrheal disease 10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute9

 Injuries and loss of life  Increased risk of water-borne and rodent borne diseases (e.g., typhoid and leptospirosis) 10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute10

10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute11 Next Steps

10/18/2012 Caribbean Exploratory Research Center 5th Annual Institute12 Thank you for Listening. As the world becomes sicker - What will you do?