Download Country case – Health sector

Case Study – Health sector
COSTA RICA
National Meteorological Institute
Ministry of Environment and Energy
Magda Campos Barrantes
Paraguay - August, 2006
National Communications
First National Communication
 Forestry sector
 Agriculture sector
 Water resources
 Coastal Zones
Second National
Communication
 Health sector
Climate
Costa Rica
Climate
1000
Dry season
Rainy season
800
600
400
200
0
ENE
FEB
MAR
ABR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AGO
SET
OCT
NOV
DIC
Case study…
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Dengue broke the altitudinal barrier in 1995.
In agreement with specialists, “Aedes aegipty”, only developed in hot
zones (hot climates). Nevertheless in Costa Rica it has evolved and
extended its borders.
Reappearance of cholera in 1998.
Increase in cases of asthma in children, 32% of the population suffers
from it and it is spreading.
Skin cancer has increased in Costa Rica. In the dermatology
consultation of Hospital Calderón Guardia, two cases of skin cancer
are treated per day.
Locust plague in 1998 and 2002
Increase in plagues in the Agricultural sector
In the years of “El Niño” (1997 and 2004), spots have been detected in
the Red Tide on the Pacific side of Costa Rica. The reported toxicity in
bivalves can cause serious health affectations to those who ingest
them.
Increase in rat population (1999-2000)
Case Study…
One of the diseases of the most epidemiological importance that is
associated with rats is the Hantavirus. An increase of rodents puts the
health of many communities at risk, mainly rural areas.
The population fluctuations of the cane rat (Sigmodon hispidus) in
Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is directly associated with climate variability.
The phases of ENOS can be important for the prediction of rat plagues
and therefore a valuable component of early warning systems in the
health sector.
Case study…
1.5
1
0.5
0
-0.5
-1
-1.5
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
%RAT AS
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
VERANILLO
Relation between rat population (percentage anomaly) and
annual precipitation (anomaly in mm). Cañas, Guanacaste.
Costa Rica
…with high precipitation - high population of rats.
This occurrence has is more likely to occur during La
Niña events.
Impacts in the health sector
 Increase in number of illnesses transmitted by
vector
 Increase in number of dengue cases
 Increase in number of deaths caused by dengue
 Increase in number of asthma cases
 Increase in skin cancer
 Recurrence of respiratory illnesses
 Increased demand for health services
 Decrease in standard of living
Challenges to face - Information
Better coordination between institutions
Standardization of data collection and
methods
Better national coverage
Close gaps in the lack of specific
information in the relationship between
health and climate
Technical needs
Software
Training in management of scenarios and
methods
Assistance for presentations
(communication) to government and
private officials
Assistance for recompilation and
processing of public data and information