659 Review article doi: 10.12980/jclm.4.2016J6-106 ©2016 by the Journal of Coastal Life Medicine. All rights reserved. Infectious diseases and climate: Case of Morocco Kahime Kholoud 1 , Behnassi Mohamed 2 , Messouli Mohammed 3 , Boussaa Samia 1,4 , Ali Boumezzough 1* 1 Laboratory of Ecology and Environment, URAC 32, CNRST, ERACNERS 06, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco 2 Global Environmental and Human Security Politics, Ibn Zohr University of Agadir, Agadir, Morocco 3 Laboratory of Hydrobiology, Ecotoxicology and Sanitation, Faculty of Sciences-Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco 4 Department of Health Techniques, Higher Institute of Nursing Professions and Health Techniques, Marrakesh, Morocco Journal of Coastal Life Medicine 2016; 4(8): 659-662 Journal of Coastal Life Medicine *Corresponding author: Ali Boumezzough, Laboratory of Ecology and Environment, URAC 32, CNRST, ERACNERS 06, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakesh, Morocco. Tel: +212 (0) 662 130 564 E-mail: aboumezzough@gmail.com The journal implements double-blind peer review practiced by specially invited international editorial board members. 1. Introduction Climate change is affecting ecosystems and may have direct or indirect effects on human and animal health. This change affects the distribution and abundance as well as the spatial dynamics of vector species and reservoirs, which in turn disrupts ecosystem composition, vector and reservoir reproduction cycles. Climate change also acts on viruses, bacteria or parasites pathogens, forcing a selection of populations better adapted to environmental conditions[1]. Within a Moroccan perspective, the main health vulnerabilities to climate change include the following: risk of reactivation of certain diseases sensitive to climate change, such as malaria, bilharzia, typhoid, leishmaniasis, dengue and cholera; possibility of reemergence of infectious diseases, vector-borne diseases as well as diseases and deaths related to extreme weather events, especially among the most vulnerable groups and increased water and food- borne diseases. Changing environmental conditions caused by climate change often have an enormous influence on vector and reservoir populations and consequently, on the epidemiology of disease. While some species of potential vector and reservoir may disappear, others may become more abundant. Changing environmental conditions, linked to climate change, also modify the behavior and areas inhabited by migrating host species. In this context, climate change is expected to affect the distribution and prevalence of vector-borne diseases such as leishmaniasis and malaria, as well as waterborne diseases such as schistosomiasis. These neglected diseases still ravage lives covertly in the world[2]. In Morocco, infectious diseases such leishmaniasis, malaria and schistosomiasis are still a public health problem and the situation may be more complicated in light of climate change despite the adoption of a domestic program to fight against these parasitic diseases. Currently, they are a federally reportable disease and the number of reported cases -indigenous and -imported is increasing. According to the Moroccan Ministry of Health, 2 086 cases of malaria were imported between 2005 and 2014[3]. The risk of autochthonous malaria resumption is important in Morocco because of the possible presence of gametocytes carriers in the last malaria focus[4]. Leishmaniasis in Morocco shows significant variations in its spatial distribution and forms with an increase in the number of recorded cases during the last couple of years[5]. A total of 43 163 cases of ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT It is predicted that the life cycle, incidence and spread of several infectious diseases will be increasingly and adversely affected by climate change. Morocco, designated as an area of significant impact by numerous reports of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, is notably susceptible to such drastic climate-related health consequences. The present work thus examines the increasing risk of vector-borne diseases in hazard-prone localities, while also highlights the current lack of dedicated scientific research in this critical area. It further identifies the severe challenges both of health adaptation to climate change and of consequent policy responses, before providing a more detailed overview of Morocco’s adaptive capacity to such crises. Article history: Received 13 Jun 2016 Accepted 15 Jul 2016 Available online 3 Aug 2016 Keywords: Morocco Vector-borne diseases Climate change Eco-epidemiology Adaptation Health journal homepage: www.jclmm.com