Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk Rises With Climate Change

As summer 2024 approaches, Texas has reported 176 human cases of West Nile virus, highlighting the increasing threat of mosquito-borne illnesses. Climate change is expanding the range and seasonality of mosquitoes, enabling diseases like West Nile virus to reach new areas, including the first detection in UK mosquitoes this year, though no human cases have been reported there. Experts warn that global warming is increasing disease risks, lengthening mosquito seasons, and raising the likelihood of outbreaks in formerly unaffected regions. Reductions in international aid may hamper efforts to control these diseases globally, raising the risk of wider transmission. Shifting insect populations are also causing ecological and agricultural impacts, with some species at risk of extinction while others, such as disease-carrying mosquitoes, thrive in new environments. These trends underscore the need for continued surveillance, robust public health measures, and climate adaptation strategies.