Climate Change and Infectious Diseases in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examines the impact of climate change on the prevalence of cholera and malaria in Funtua Local Government Area of Katsina state. Monthly and  annual trends of climatic data (temperature and rainfall) and infectious diseases (cholera and malaria) from 1985-2014 were analyzed and plotted in order to determine the degree of congruence between the climatic data and the prevalence of cholera and malaria in the study area. Linear trend line equation was used in determining the monthly and annual changes in both temperature and rainfall, and the prevalence of cholera and malaria. The result revealed that as the rainfall and temperature is increasing from 1985 to 2014, likewise the occurrences of cholera and malaria diseases kept on increasing. The highest occurrences of cholera and malaria cases were recorded in 2013 and 2014, while the months of July, August, September and October recorded the highest occurrence of both malaria and cholera with a single peak in August. Further findings revealed that the yearly occurrence of the diseases for the months of July, August, September and October has been increasing from 1985 to 2014. The study recommends that people should avoid drinking water directly from ponds and rivers without been treated, and government should sink bore holes in rural communities in order to reduce the risk of cholera. Treated mosquito nets should be provided in order to reduce the risk of malaria and the monthly sanitation program should be encouraged and intensified.

Keywords: cholera, malaria, rainfall, temperature, trends