Evaluation of the Correlation Between Climate Change and the Most Reported Cases of Diseases Due to Climate Change in the Study Area Over the Period of 11 Years (2010-2020) in Selected South-Western States (Ekiti, Osun and Ondo), Nigeria

Climate change, acting via less direct mechanisms, would affect the transmission of many infectious diseases (especially water, food and vector-borne diseases). The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between climate change and emerging and re-emerging diseases in selected south-west states (Ekiti, Osun and Ondo) Nigeria. This study covered the entire population of three south western states (Ekiti, Osun and Ondo) and relied more on secondary data from the Health records department (Data Bank) from the Federal Ministries of Health with additional data from NIMET (weather data or reports). Selection of health care facilities in each of the three states, health data indicating disease distribution and records from 2010 -2020 alongside climate data from Ekiti, Osun and Ondo State. An integrated approach using correlation study was employed in assessing the effect of climate change in particular reference to emerging and re-emerging disease in the study areas. Findings revealed that the higher the temperature the higher the emergence of Measles and Chicken pox, but the lower the temperature the higher the emergence of influenza and Pneumonia. The emergence of Lassa Fever however does not depend on the climatic change either with high or low temperature in South-West, Nigeria. Hence it was concluded that there is correlation between climate change and emerging and re-emerging of diseases.