High temperatures and more frequent heat waves can pose a significant health risk, especially for elderly and dependent people. The appearance and handling of new pathogens and their carriers (vectors) also deserve increased attention.
The lead for the conception of measures for adaptation to climate change in the human health subsector is taken in part by the Federal Office of Public Health FOPH and in part by the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN. Healthcare and implementation of measures remain the responsibility of the cantons.
As a result of the increasingly intensive trade in animals and animal feed, but also due to the changing dispersion characteristics for pathogens and disease vectors, in the future in Switzerland it will be increasingly necessary to reckon with infections in farm animals, domestic and wild animals, that are new or have been eradicated earlier. The lead for measures for adaptation to climate change in the animal health subsector is taken by the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO.
