Tropical fevers

Infectious diseases are particularly sensitive to climatic conditions. Longer, hotter summers, warmer winters or increased annual rainfalls could enable vector organisms like ticks, mosquitoes and rodents etc. to shift habitats. This would introduce diseases to areas previously unfamiliar with them, like Germany.

Summer 2018 saw a sharp and shocking spike in West Nile virus infections in Europe, following soaring temperatures (compared with the past four years). 1503 cases of the mosquito-borne disease were recorded in Europe by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Sadly, 180 of these were fatal¹. Countries affected include Italy, Greece, Hungary, Serbia and Romania.

Other diseases that may become more common include Chikungunya fever, Dengue fever, Malaria, and visceral Leishmaniasis². Warmer climates have also encouraged the spread of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and encephalitis³. Even food-borne diseases (such as Salmonella and Campylobacter) seem to be highly temperature-sensitive – meaning that increased average temperatures could seriously affect food safety⁴. Finally, climate change will also influence water quality and availability (both drinking and bathing). Water-borne diseases, such as those caused by Cryptosporidium in drinking water and Vibrio bacteria in bathing water, will become much more of a threat⁵.

Our health is at stake, we need to act now!