Climate change responsible for 19 per cent of rising dengue cases, finds study

Amid record year for dengue infections globally a new study has found that climate change is responsible for 19 per cent of rising dengue burdenClimate change has the potential to spark an additional 4060 per cent spike by 2050 mdash and by as much as 150200 per cent in some areas mdash according to a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ASTMH in the USIndia has also seen a surge in dengue cases this yearThe latest findings from researchers at Stanford and Harvard Universities offer the most definitive evidence to date that climate change is a big factor driving a global surge in the mosquitoborne diseaseCountries in the Americas alone have recorded almost 12 million cases in 2024 compared to 46 million in 2023 and locally acquired infections have been reported in California and Florida The study also carries warnings of even sharper increases to comeldquoWe looked at data on dengue incidence and climate variation across 21 countries in Asia and the Americas and found that there is a clear and direct relationship between rising temperatures and rising infectionsrdquo said Erin Mordecai an infectious disease ecologist at Stanfordrsquos Woods Institute for the EnvironmentItrsquos evidence that climate change already has become a significant threat to human health and for dengue in particular our data suggests the impact could get much worse Mordecai addedWhile some dengue infections produce only mild symptoms others cause excruciating joint pain earning dengue the nickname ldquobreakbone feverrdquo and severe cases can lead to bleeding complications and shockThere are no drugs to treat the disease and while there are two licensed dengue vaccines available some dengue experts have pointed to challenges with both that could limit widespread adoptionThe study finds that amid denguersquos growing threat moderating global warming by reducing emissions would also moderate climate impacts on dengue infectionsThe analysis shows that with sharp cuts in emissions areas now on track to experience a 60 per cent increase would instead see about a 40 per cent rise in dengue infections between now and 2050However with global climate models predicting that temperatures will continue to increase even with large reductions in emissions the researchers found that 17 of the 21 countries studied still would see climatedriven increases in dengue even under the most optimistic scenarios for carbon cutsMordecai said that dengueendemic areas that are just now entering that 20 to 29 degree celsius sweetspot for virus transmission mdash parts of Peru Mexico Bolivia and Brazil mdash could face the biggest future risks with infections over the next few decades rising 150 per cent to 200 per centAlso ReadAir pollution spikes inflammation in patients with heart disease StudyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever