Climate change refers to long-term shifts in weather conditions and patterns of extreme weather events. It may
lead to changes in health threat to human beings, multiplying existing health problems. This review examines the
scientific evidences on the impact of climate change on human infectious diseases. It identifies research progress
and gaps on how human society may respond to, adapt to, and prepare for the related changes. Based on a survey
of related publications between 1990 and 2015, the terms used for literature selection reflect three aspects — the
components of infectious diseases, climate variables, and selected infectious diseases. Humans' vulnerability to
the potential health impacts by climate change is evident in literature. As an active agent, human beings may control
the related health effects that may be effectively controlled through adopting proactive measures, including
better understanding of the climate change patterns and of the compound disease-specific health effects, and effective
allocation of technologies and resources to promote healthy lifestyles and public awareness. The following
adaptation measures are recommended: 1) to go beyond empirical observations of the association between climate
change and infectious diseases and develop more scientific explanations, 2) to improve the prediction of
spatial–temporal process of climate change and the associated shifts in infectious diseases at various spatial
and temporal scales, and 3) to establish locally effective early warning systems for the health effects of predicated
climate change