Endemic preparedness for tropical diseases moving north
With the ongoing climate change and northward migration of mosquitos in Europe, I wonder if we should not consider changing the name of the ‘London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’ (LSHTM) to ‘London School of Hygiene & Global Medicine’ (LSHGM) and the name of the Antwerp ‘Institute of Tropical Medicine’ (ITM) into ‘Institute of Global Medicine’ (IGM)? Also, instead of only thinking about pandemic preparedness (COVID-xx, …), should we not also consider endemic preparedness for tropical diseases moving north? Tropical species, such as mosquitoes, are moving northward as winters warm and spreading vector-borne diseases (e.g. Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti, etc.). Diseases, such as Chikungunya, Dengue, West Nile virus, Rift Valley fever, etc., are moving northward. It will take many years to adapt our lifestyle and healthcare systems to emerging diseases (cultural hysteresis). Think of one day sleeping under a mosquito net in Antwerp or London.