Overlapping Infectious Diseases and Disasters

Project background

Climate change is expected to increase the risk of infectious disease outbreaks and weather-related disasters happening at the same time. However, while research and practice have developed in response to each of these respective threats, there has been limited work to address them together. Agencies are often separated by thematic or institutional focus on disasters or infectious diseases, but not both, which can limit capacity to respond to future cases where they happen together.

This project aims to address this gap, with a focus on preparation and adaptation to address the health risks of climate change. The aim of this work is to gather information on preparing for and responding to projected increases in overlapping infectious disease outbreaks and weather-related disasters within Victoria. This project also seeks to give organisations a new tool for anticipating risks and planning actions that can be taken.

Foresight scenario development

In the first stage of this project, we interviewed 20 experts including researchers, practitioners, government workers and citizen scientists, about the likely scenarios for how infectious diseases and disasters could overlap in the next 5-20 years. Through thematic analysis and foresight scenario development, we combined ways that experts imagined the future to create scenarios based on the most common and salient themes.

The scenarios are available freely through the report below.

Planning for overlapping infectious disease outbreaks and weather-related disasters

Please feel free to use these scenarios in your own staff meetings with the citation below. Questions and prompts for reflection are included with the scenarios.    

How to cite this resource
Leppold C, Taiaroa G, Samson K, Ashby L, Borda A (2024). Planning for overlapping infectious disease outbreaks and weather-related disasters: Future scenarios. University of Melbourne.

We are looking for new partners for this project!

This project is currently being expanded through the a pilot trial of the COORDINATE (Co-occurring Disasters and Infectious Disease Outbreaks) Policy Toolkit, which tests a toolkit for government agencies to use together with the scenarios, to critically assess readiness for future events and plan actions to improve preparedness. In this pilot trial, we are seeking to partner with Victorian government organisations of all levels (from small units to state level departments). If you or your organisation is interested in participating, please contact Claire at claire.leppold@unimelb.edu.au.

Funding

• Climate and Health Funding (2023-24), Climate CACTH Lab, University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
• Climate and Health Funding (2024-25), Climate CACTH Lab, University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences