ORCID ID

0000000317999802

Graduation Date

Fall 12-19-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Programs

Medical Sciences Interdepartmental Area

First Advisor

Jesse E Bell

Second Advisor

Yeongjin Gwon

Third Advisor

Jocelyn J. Herstein

Fourth Advisor

Kristina Kintziger

Abstract

Human exposure to climate-sensitive infectious diseases presents a growing public health challenge in the United States. As disease outcomes are shaped by the complex interaction between environmental conditions and population susceptibility, these exposure-outcome vary across regions and demographic groups. Enhancing public health preparedness and environmental health literacy through evidence-based risk communication is crucial for mitigating the effects of climate variability on infectious disease dynamics. The use of national public health surveillance systems offers a valuable approach to quantify these risks, though several gaps remain in understanding how climate drivers influence disease outcomes.

This dissertation addresses key gaps in the epidemiology of climate-sensitive infectious diseases by examining the spatial and temporal patterns of disease mortality and prevalence in relation to temperature, temperature anomalies, and drought conditions. Using mortality and prevalence data from national surveillance systems, we applied a longitudinal and ecological framework to assess climate-health associations across three distinct use cases: 1) vector-borne diseases, 2) fungal infections, and 3) thermophilic pathogens.

In the first study, we analyzed mortality patterns of West Nile Virus (WNV) and Lyme disease, the two most prevalent vector-borne diseases (VBDs) in the U.S. and identified geographic and sociodemographic disparities in mortality outcomes. The second study examined the association between climate variability and mortality due to Invasive Fungal Sinusitis (IFS), revealing significant links to temperature anomalies and drought across climate regions and vulnerable populations. The third study explored the patterns of Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri), a rare but fatal pathogen, and identified environmental thresholds associated with case emergence across diverse geographic regions.

The findings from this dissertation contribute to the growing field of climate-health research by integrating environmental exposures with public health surveillance data. These results are intended to support public health departments, policymakers, and healthcare providers in developing targeted interventions and adaptive strategies. Further studies incorporating individual-level data, refined exposure measurements, and stratified analyses are needed to strengthen the evidence base for climate-sensitive disease prevention and policy development.

Comments

2026 Copyright, the authors

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Available for download on Friday, December 03, 2027

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