Climate change is described only as an environmental or economic issue, but it is in fact even more urgent. Rising global temperatures, changing climate patterns, and frequent natural disasters are changing the way infectious diseases spread around the world. From mosquito diseases such as malaria and dengue fever to waterborne epidemics that occur after a flood, climate change is reshaping the landscape of public health.
One of the most popular cases is the spread of a mediating insect disease. Mosquitoes that breed in warm and damp environments can now survive in areas that were previously difficult to live in. Dengue fever, which used to spread in tropical regions, is now being reported in southern Europe and the southern United States. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of dengue cases has increased more than eightfold worldwide over the past 20 years. Also, malaria, which has traditionally occurred in lowland areas, is now beginning to occur in the African highlands and in the highlands of South America. Residents in these areas are more vulnerable than people in other places because they lack experience in coping with malaria.
Extreme climate changes also contribute to the spread of diseases. Floods that occur after typhoons contaminate drinking water sources, causing waterborne diseases such as cholera. Droughts, on the other hand, make pathogens dependent on unsafe water that can spread. As climate change causes these extreme events more often, many people are exposed to the risk of developing infectious diseases. The problem is that the health systems in these areas are insufficient.
Globally, these changes have a serious influence. Medical staff in newly infected areas may not have received enough education, medicine, or vaccines. For example, Southern European hospitals are now required to prepare for dengue fever patients, and North American health authorities are stepping up monitoring of Lyme disease due to the spread of ticks. This shows the need for reinforcing disease monitoring systems and international cooperation. Climate adaptation clearly shows that it is not only to protect shorelines or agriculture, but also to protect human life.
In sum, climate change and infectious diseases are inextricably linked. The incidence of Malaria, dengue fever, and cholera is seen as evidence of just that – global warming isn’t an environmental issue for the future; rather, it’s an immediate health concern. To address this challenge, all levels of government, scientists, and society need to acknowledge that climate action is public health action. Preventing climate change is not only about protecting the ecosystem, but also about preventing the next epidemic on a large scale.
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