How does climate change affect malaria, neglected tropical disease?
New findings from the World Health Organization reveal that there is not yet sufficient understanding of the actual and potential impacts of human-induced changes to climate patterns on malaria and neglected tropical diseases (e.g., Dengue fever).
A review published in Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene reviewed 42,693 articles and noted that as the geographic range of disease vectors like mosquitoes expands, so does the risk of introducing these diseases to new, unprepared areas. The findings highlight "that these shifts in prevalence, incidence, range and intensity of malaria and a number of [neglected tropical diseases] may be felt hardest in those communities already disproportionately impacted by them."
According to the World Health Organization, the findings underscore the need for more comprehensive, collaborative and standardized modeling to better understand the impact of climate change on malaria and neglected tropical diseases. It also notes that the effects of climate change on malaria and neglected tropical disease varies significantly by disease and location and exhibit nonlinear patterns evolving over time.
Read more: World Health Organization
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