Climate Change Predicted to Spread Rodent-Borne Arenaviruses in South America, Increasing Health Risks
A study from the University of California, Davis, published in the journal npj Viruses, indicates that climate change is likely to drive rodent-borne arenaviruses into new regions of South America, posing a risk to previously unaffected communities. The research utilized climate projections, rodent population shifts, and human infection risks to model potential future outbreaks of arenaviruses, which can cause severe hemorrhagic fevers. The study highlights the potential spread of viruses like the Guanarito virus in Venezuela and Colombia, Machupo virus in Bolivia and Paraguay, and Junin virus in Argentina. These findings underscore the need for coordinated public health policies to address the risks posed by climate change and zoonotic diseases. 
