Climate Change Drives Spread of Vector-Borne Diseases, Disrupting Elimination Efforts
Climate change is significantly impacting the spread and resurgence of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue. Harsh climatic conditions, including floods, droughts, and extreme weather events, are disrupting efforts to eliminate these diseases. In San Diego, increased mosquito activity due to hot, humid weather and high tides raises concerns about the spread of diseases like dengue and West Nile virus. The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) faces a high burden of communicable diseases, with climate change exacerbating the situation by influencing disease spread and resurgence. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working on a multi-communicable disease elimination (MCDE) approach to address these challenges.