African health experts warn of climate change & rising vector-borne diseases

Climate change has become a pressing public health crisis around the world, as disease patterns worsen and emerge in regions where they did not exist before. Rising temperatures can expand and extend the life cycle of disease-carrying vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks and parasites. Health experts are particularly concerned about the role of climate change in the rise of vector-borne diseases in Africa’s low- and middle-income countries, which already face numerous health and socioeconomic disparities. “It is crucial to acknowledge the gravity of the situation that we are facing today, especially around climate change, as it is no longer only an environmental concern, but it has evolved into a significant public health crisis with far-reaching implications for communities worldwide,” said Edward Miano, executive director of the Health Rights Advocacy Forum (HERAF). He noted that climate change is worsening disease patterns, and diseases are emerging in areas where they did not exist before. A...