Climate Change Drives Dengue Fever Spread: US & Europe at Risk
Increasing climate change poses a significant threat as it drives the spread of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease that claims thousands of lives annually. Scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued a warning, urging health authorities to prepare for combatting this deadly disease as it moves into new areas such as the United States and Europe.
Dengue fever is known to cause approximately 20,000 deaths each year, with the highest fatality rates recorded in Asia and South America. Shockingly, the disease has a fatality rate of one death per 100 patients. Disturbingly, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports that in 2023 alone, over 4.2 million cases and more than 3,000 dengue-related deaths have been reported across 79 countries and territories worldwide.
According to data, the countries most affected by dengue fever are India, Brazil, Peru, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico, Philippines, Nicaragua, and Colombia. Sir Jeremy Farrar, the chief scientist at the WHO, explains that rising temperatures are providing ideal conditions for mosquitoes, carriers of the disease, to spread further into the US, Europe, and even into new regions in Africa. The situation is already alarming, with the US currently recording approximately 1,200 cases annually, including nearly 600 locally-acquired infections. Furthermore, concerns have arisen after California reported its first locally-acquired infection in a decade just last month.
Scientists warn that if infected mosquitoes from Mexico manage to move northward, dengue fever could become endemic in the US. Professor Sir Peter Horby, the director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at Oxford University, reveals, Dengue, which is classically a South American, South East Asian disease and is hyperendemic in those countries, has spread North, and you’re now seeing transmission in the Mediterranean.
The risk of dengue fever spreading beyond its traditional borders is heightened by infected travelers who carry the virus and are bitten by local mosquitoes, aiding in the transmission of the disease to new individuals. In light of these developments, Farrar urges health authorities to make necessary preparations. In April, the WHO issued a warning that climate change could result in global outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya. Arboviruses, including dengue, have witnessed a remarkable increase in infections worldwide in recent decades. It is now estimated that nearly half of the world’s population is at risk of dengue, with 100-400 million infections occurring each year.
Dr. Raman Velayudhan, the Unit Head of the Global Programme on Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases at WHO, emphasizes that factors such as population movement, urbanization, and associated challenges with water and sanitation contribute to the continuous spread of vectors, such as mosquitoes, into new regions. Additionally, Velayudhan notes that the virus and the vectors thrive in higher temperatures, which are facilitated by climate change, including increased precipitation and higher humidity.
As the global community faces the threat of dengue fever’s expansion, experts advocate for heightened awareness and actions to combat this alarming public health crisis. By recognizing the urgency of the situation, implementing necessary preventive measures, and fostering international collaboration, we can hope to mitigate the impact of dengue fever on vulnerable populations.
In conclusion, the growing threat of dengue fever demands immediate attention and coordinated efforts to counter its spread. The consequences of ignoring this threat could be catastrophic, with the disease infiltrating new regions and putting populations in the United States and Europe at risk. As climate change continues to affect our planet, it is crucial that health authorities and policymakers join forces to combat the relentless advance of dengue fever and protect countless lives worldwide.
