The 'Arctic: Territory of Dialogue' International Arctic Forum: Climate-change effects on the epidemiology of infectious diseases and the impacts on Northern Societies
was held in Arkhangelsk on March 29-30, 2017. The Forum was focused on interactions between international organizations, government bodies, and scientific and business communities from Russia and around the world, who will work together on developing international cooperation, consolidating efforts to ensure the sustainable development of the Arctic, and raising the standard of living of those in Arctic regions.
The Arctic: Territory of a Favourable Living Environment session organized by Rospotrebnadzor took place as part of the Forum. The results of actual research studies of the impact of microbiological and hygiene factors on the health were discussed.
Anna Popova, Chief State Medical Officer of Russian Federation noted that hygienic and epidemiological threats arising from the northern territories and their development are planetary. Shaping a favourable living environment in Arctic is an important task on the national level that brings together the relevant structures, scientific community, business and civil society. A solution of the problem is possible provided systemic study, analysis and management of hygienic and epidemiological risks for the health of the population of the Arctic territories.
Professor Birgitta Evengård from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences reported of the climate-change effects on the health of humans and the increase of associated epidemiological risks. She stressed that joint projects and programs within the Arctic region countries can become guarantors of sustainable development for the whole world.
According to Areg Totolian, Director of the Institut Pasteur in St. Petersburg / Institute for Research in Epidemiology and Microbiology, and Marianne Røgeberg, Head of Arctic Affairs, NordForsk (Norway), an example of such cooperation is the project of bilateral Agreement, in the process of approval, between the Institut Pasteur in St. Petersburg and Umeå University (Sweden). "Climate-change effects on the epidemiology of infectious diseases and the impacts on Northern Societies" (CLINF)
During the session Areg Totolian shared information about the prevalence of tick-borne encephalitis in northern regions and announced the problem of "polar" immunodeficiency developing in the natural climatic conditions of the northern latitudes.