Dengue Infection Could Decrease in Warmer Climate
Contrary to some notion that dengue risk is projected to be high because of climate change, health researchers today revealed this is may not be the case anymore.
Health researchers have predicted that the transmission of dengue could decrease in a future warmer climate.
To cite an example, the co-lead researcher Associate Professor David Harley from The Australian National University (ANU) said dengue risk might decrease in the wet tropics of northeast Australia under a high-emissions scenario in 2050. The research ruled out that this is due to mosquito breeding sites becoming drier and less favorable to their survival.
“Our work, using a mathematical model based on Queensland conditions, suggests that dengue transmission might decrease with greater warming.”
Climate Change May Curb Cases of Dengue in Some Areas
Previous projections stated that climate change will increase transmission of mosquito-borne diseases globally.
But with the new findings based from the new research, the projection is different this time on the impact of climate change in warmer climate. While climate change may have a strong impact to global health and humanity, but it may have a positive effect in some places.
This is attested by Dr. Harley who said, “While climate change generally poses a major threat to humanity, it also may reduce the incidence of dengue in some areas.”
Some Considerations
The researchers pointed out that in general, health and other impacts of climate warming will be negative in Australia and elsewhere in the world. But authorities should not be complacent about climate change’s effect on people’s health.
Dr. Harley said, “While we could see some reduction in dengue in Far North Queensland in a future warmer climate, the disease is widespread elsewhere in the world where outcomes would be different.”
The ‘Killer’ Dengue
Dengue is a killer disease. In fact hundreds of millions of people are infected with dengue each year, with some children dying in severe cases.
World Health Organization (WHO) says the incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. Dengue incidence is prevalent in?Asia where it currently bears 70 percent of the global burden of the disease.
