Climate Health & the New Pandemics
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In this presentation, Dr. Peter Hotez discusses how recent pandemics like COVID-19 and avian influenza represent a larger pattern of respiratory infection threats. He also examined the rising prevalence of vector-borne and parasitic diseases, such as dengue, Zika, and Chagas disease, driven by climate change and trends both locally in Houston and globally. Dr. Hotez outlined innovative approaches to better prepare for and mitigate future pandemic threats.
Activity Information
How to Claim Credit
You may claim credit after watching this activity.
You will be redirected to the BCM DCPD credit management site when claiming credit and may be asked to register or log in.
Needs Statement
Many healthcare professionals are unaware of the impact of climate change and other 21st century forces, such as urbanization and human and animal migrations in promoting a regular cadence of pandemic threats. This lecture details and reports on how the confluence of these factors is causing the rise of catastrophic respiratory infections such as COVID or zoonotic influenza, as well as vector-borne and parasitic infections, particularly in Texas and the other states on the Gulf of Mexico. We also explain how these forces are causing a similar rise in illness in other global regions and how these pandemic threats will become our "new normal."
Educational Objectives
At the conclusion of this activity, the participant will be able to:
- Summarize how recent pandemic threats such as COVID-19 and avian influenza are part of a greater cadence of pandemic threats from respiratory infections.
- Summarize why we are seeing a similar rise in vector-borne and parasitic tropical infections, such as dengue, zika, chikungunya, oropouche, Chagas disease, and hookworm infection.
- Outline why Texas and our U.S. Gulf Coast region are particularly vulnerable to these threats.
- Explain on new approaches to prepare for these regular pandemic threats and implement a climate health alert system.
Target Audience
Professional Categories
- Physicians
- Medical Students
- Fellows
- Residents
- Nurses
- Other Health Professionals
- Patients/Consumers
Specialties
- Family and Community Medicine
- Infectious Disease
- Internal Medicine
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Interest Groups
- Environmental
- Global Health
Competencies
- Medical Knowledge
Activity Evaluation
Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.
Educational Methods
- Lectures
Accreditation/Credit Designation
Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Activity Director
-
Michael Fordis, M.D.
Senior Associate Dean and Director, Center for Collaborative and Interactive Technologies (CCIT)
Baylor College of Medicine
Peer Reviewer
Term of Approval
December 2, 2024 through December 31, 2026. Original release date: December 2, 2024.
Disclosure Policy
Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.
In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.
In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.
BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.
All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.
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Disclosures
The following individual(s) has/have reported financial or other relationship(s) with commercial entities whose products/services may relate to the educational content of this activity:
Presenter
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Peter J. Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Dean, National School of Tropical Medicine | Professor. Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology | Chief, Section of Pediatric Tropical Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Disclosure:
Nothing to disclose.
Activity Director
-
Michael Fordis, M.D.
Senior Associate Dean and Director, Center for Collaborative and Interactive Technologies (CCIT)
Baylor College of Medicine
Disclosure:
Nothing to disclose.
Peer Reviewer
-
Monisha Arya, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
Disclosure:
Nothing to disclose.
Health Topics
Presenter: