The Impact of Climate Change on Infectious Diseases

Key Points:

• Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are driving the spread of mosquito- and tick-borne diseases into new regions.
• Flooding and water scarcity are increasing outbreaks of waterborne illnesses like cholera and hepatitis A.
• Deforestation and habitat loss are fueling zoonotic disease spillovers, including Ebola and COVID-19.
• Low-resource communities face the greatest risks as health systems struggle to adapt.

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Mosquitoes Follow the Heat into New Territories

In the highlands of Ethiopia, where malaria was once rare due to cooler temperatures, health professionals are now seeing a troubling rise in cases. A 2020 study published in Nature confirmed that mosquitoes are moving into higher altitudes and previously malaria-free zones as temperatures warm—even small increases are enough to expand their range (Mordecai et al., 2020).

It’s one of many examples showing how climate change is not only reshaping our physical environment—but also redrawing the map of infectious disease.

Climate Change Is Reshaping Global Disease Risk

Infectious diseases evolve alongside their environment—and today’s environment is changing at record speed. Vector-borne illnesses like malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease are appearing in new regions. Waterborne outbreaks surge after floods or droughts disrupt sanitation. And zoonotic diseases—those jumping from animals to humans—are more likely as ecosystems are stressed and fragmented.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change affects a wide range of health determinants, including clean air, safe drinking water, food security, and shelter stability—making the global population more vulnerable to disease overall (WHO, 2021).

Environmental Shifts That Accelerate Disease Spread

Rising Temperatures Fuel Insect-Borne Outbreaks

Warmer conditions speed up the reproductive cycles of mosquitoes and ticks—and the replication of viruses within them. This means diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya are now being reported in places once considered too cool for transmission, including parts of Europe and the southern U.S. (Ryan et al., 2019).

Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, has steadily expanded northward into Canada and westward across the U.S., closely tracking warming temperature zones (CDC, 2023). The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change reports a 12% global increase in the transmission potential for dengue between 1950 and 2020 due to climate shifts (Watts et al., 2021).

Extreme Weather Events Amplify Waterborne Threats

Intense rainfall and flooding overwhelm sewage systems, pollute freshwater sources, and accelerate the spread of diseases like cholera, hepatitis A, and leptospirosis. These conditions are especially dangerous in regions with limited infrastructure.

In Mozambique and Bangladesh, for example, floodwaters often bring surges of diarrheal and gastrointestinal illness, as seen after Cyclone Idai and other extreme weather events (UNEP, 2021). On the flip side, droughts may force people to rely on unsafe water sources—contributing to illness from contaminated supplies.

Deforestation Increases Human-Animal Pathogen Contact

The majority of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals—and deforestation increases the chances those pathogens reach humans. As forests are cleared for agriculture or mining, wildlife habitats are lost, forcing species into closer contact with humans and livestock.

Ebola outbreaks in Central and West Africa, the Nipah virus in Southeast Asia, and even the likely zoonotic origins of COVID-19 all highlight this risk (IPBES, 2020). A 2023 article in Nature Climate Change emphasized that biodiversity loss from climate and land use change is a primary driver of zoonotic spillover (Carlson et al., 2023).

Urban Growth and Displacement Drive Transmission

Climate-induced migration—caused by sea level rise, desertification, and crop failure—often leads to overcrowding in urban areas or refugee camps. These dense environments strain health systems and sanitation, making them ripe for respiratory infections, gastrointestinal disease, and viral outbreaks.

Increased urbanization, particularly in low-income countries, is outpacing public health infrastructure, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2022), exacerbating the spread of infectious diseases.

Adaptation Strategies for a Warmer, Riskier World

1. Early-Warning Systems Backed by Climate Data
Countries like Rwanda and Sri Lanka are using satellite data and weather forecasts to anticipate malaria and dengue outbreaks before they occur (World Bank, 2021).

2. Disease Surveillance That Tracks Climate Trends
Strengthening disease monitoring systems—especially in rural or underserved regions—can help detect outbreaks earlier and link them to environmental signals.

3. Resilient Infrastructure to Withstand Health Shocks
Building sanitation systems that can endure floods and droughts is crucial. Solar-powered clinics and rainwater catchment systems can also help vulnerable communities adapt.

4. Global Frameworks That Unite Health and Environment
Initiatives like the One Health approach—endorsed by WHO, FAO, and UNEP—recognize the interdependence of human, animal, and ecosystem health and aim to coordinate disease prevention efforts across sectors.

5. Community-Based Prevention and Resilience
From mosquito-proofing homes to improving hygiene and access to vaccines, empowering communities with tools and knowledge can reduce disease vulnerability even before major investments arrive.

Brazil’s Dengue Surge: A Climate Warning Sign

In 2024, Brazil recorded over 1.8 million dengue cases in just the first half of the year—a nearly 300% increase from 2023. Health officials linked the spike to a record-breaking hot summer, erratic rainfall, and poor urban drainage that created standing water—the perfect breeding ground for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes (Brazil Ministry of Health, 2024).

Despite national campaigns for vector control, experts stress that without addressing the underlying climate conditions, the outbreaks will continue.

Linking Climate and Public Health for a Safer Future

Climate change is not just an environmental problem—it’s a public health emergency. By integrating climate awareness into public health planning, we have a chance to build more resilient, responsive systems.

Health professionals, policymakers, and everyday individuals all have a role to play. The more we recognize the connections between climate and health, the better we can prevent outbreaks before they start—and protect vulnerable communities from future risks.

The article does not in any way constitute as medical advice. Please seek consultation with a licensed medical professional before starting any treatment. This website may receive commissions from the links or products mentioned in this article.

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Sources

• Carlson, C. J., Albery, G. F., et al. (2023). Climate change increases cross-species viral transmission risk. Nature Climate Change. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01310-w
• CDC (2023). Lyme Disease Surveillance and Statistics. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/stats/index.html
• IPBES (2020). Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics. https://www.ipbes.net/pandemics
• IPCC (2022). Sixth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2022 – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/
• Mordecai, E. A., Ryan, S. J., et al. (2020). Thermal biology of mosquito-borne disease. Nature Ecology & Evolution. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-020-1238-0
• Ryan, S. J., Carlson, C. J., et al. (2019). Global expansion and redistribution of Aedes-borne virus transmission risk. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. https://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0007213
• UNEP (2021). Cholera and Climate. https://www.unep.org/resources/factsheet/cholera-and-climate
• Watts, N., et al. (2021). The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01787-6
• WHO (2021). Climate Change and Health Fact Sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health
• World Bank (2021). Harnessing Data and Forecasts for Climate-Sensitive Diseases. https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/06/17/forecasting-disease-outbreaks-with-climate-data
• Brazil Ministry of Health (2024). Dengue Bulletin – June 2024. [Unavailable online—based on press release reported in multiple media sources]

Last Updated on August 1, 2025