Adaptation to Climate Change and Reduction of Public Health Risks: The Case of an Endemic Vector-borne Disease in the wilaya (province) of M’sila (Algeria), the Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

About this CARP project

The project's primary goal is to investigate the relationship between climate change and cutaneous leishmaniasis in highly endemic areas of Algeria. Its objectives include preventing disease outbreaks, creating early warning systems, and facilitating adaptation to climate change. This will be achieved by analyzing the vulnerability of the local population in endemic regions and gathering insights from various professional sectors, such as forestry and agriculture, regarding climate change's impact on cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks.

Study site

M'Sila is located between 35 ° 18' and 35 ° 32' North and 4 ° 15 'and 5 ° 06' East, at 240 km south-east of Algiers (Capital of Algeria), on the country's highlands. With an area of 18 175 km2 and a population of 1.029.440, The wilaya has 15 Daïras (prefecture) and 47 Baladia (Municipality), and the most populated one is M’sila city.

Main Research Questions

• What is the epidemiological profile of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Algeria, particularly in the context of its emergence in new active foci in the High Plateaus provinces?
• How does the disease transmission cycle involving sandflies, rodents, and human hosts operate in endemic areas, and what factors influence the intensity and dynamics of transmission?
• What are the socio-economic and public health impacts of cutaneous leishmaniasis, especially in terms of its aesthetic damage, particularly among girls and women, and how can these impacts be mitigated or prevented?
• What are the seasonal patterns and environmental factors that contribute to the occurrence of disease outbreaks, and how can this knowledge inform the timing and effectiveness of preventive measures such as insecticide spraying and rodent control campaigns?

This project is closely related to disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation as it seeks to investigate the impact of climate change on the epidemiology of cutaneous leishmaniasis, including the emergence of new disease foci, seasonal patterns, and environmental factors. This research seeks to inform and support disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation efforts in the Wilaya (Province) of M’sila (Algeria) by studying the dynamics of cutaneous leishmaniasis, including its relationship with climate change and the emergence of new disease foci.