Climate Change and Infectious Diseases: Expanding Risks and the Need for Integrated Surveillance

Dr. Anjali Rao Rao; Dr. Naveen Thomas  Thomas; Dr. Elijah Brooks  Brooks

doi:10.5678/8gqrvq80

Authors

Dr. Anjali Rao National Institute of Virology, Pune, India Author
Dr. Naveen Thomas ICMR-NIE, Chennai, India Author
Dr. Elijah Brooks Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5678/8gqrvq80

Keywords:

climate change, vector-borne diseases, waterborne infections, zoonotic diseases, One Health

Abstract

Climate change is significantly altering the landscape of global infectious disease threats. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events are expanding the geographic range and seasonality of many vector-borne, waterborne, and zoonotic diseases. Diseases such as dengue, malaria, cholera, and leptospirosis are increasingly reported in previously non-endemic areas, posing severe public health risks. This paper explores how climate variables influence pathogen transmission and highlights vulnerable regions facing disproportionate disease burdens. We emphasize the urgent need for integrated surveillance systems that link climate data with disease monitoring to enable early warnings.

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