The battle against diseases driven by climate change by scientists
" They are capable of detecting our scent," states Dr. Clare Strode.
She is meticulously transporting a wire enclosure filled with mosquitoes throughout her laboratory in Lancashire, located in the north-western part of England. Specifically, these are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, one of the two species identified as carriers of the dengue virus, which they spread to millions globally through their bites.
These specific mosquitoes, which reside in a lab, are free from infection and confined in a cage. The majority gravitate towards the mesh wall nearest to the researcher, indicating their hunger.
Clare is conducting research on bugs to comprehend the global spread of dengue and the role climate change plays in accelerating it.
Leaders from around the world are congregating in Dubai for the COP28, the most recent series of climate discussions by the United Nations. Specialists assert that global warming is presently making a significant impact on worldwide health.
Sunday marks the inaugural "health day" at any climate COP since the initiation of these conferences in 1995. Maria Neira, who heads the Department of Climate, Environment, and Health at the World Health Organization, expressed that it's high time health became a focal point in the COP discussions, given its urgency.
Further details about the COP28 climate conference
Dengue, typically found in tropical regions, has been reported in Europe in recent years. A type of mosquito associated with dengue, known as the Asian tiger mosquito, has also been spotted in monitoring traps in Kent, UK.
This all demonstrates the way bugs are adjusting to different climates and habitats. The hotter, more humid conditions associated with climate change are enabling certain mosquitoes that transmit diseases to flourish.
Researchers, however, are resisting. They are merging bug monitoring with weather predictions to develop methods for anticipating and readying for fresh disease outbreaks.
Taking preventative measures is more effective than finding solutions after the fact. Predicting where the next epidemic might occur could potentially prevent the loss of millions of lives, according to researchers. A project backed by the Wellcome Trust is currently working on creating these predictive tools in a dozen countries.
Dr. Rachel Lowe, the head of the international health resilience team at the Barcelona Supercomputer Centre in Spain, elaborated, "We are utilizing satellite imagery, gathering information from drones, and weather sensors."
By integrating this data with insights gathered from on-ground researchers investigating mosquitoes, she mentioned, it helps provide a more comprehensive grasp of how alterations in climate and land utilization have affected diseases transmitted by insects.
The research focuses on studying weather trends, locating stagnant water bodies where mosquitoes flourish, and observing other factors that contribute to an outbreak. The goal is to develop advance warning systems to enable communities to prepare beforehand.
The planning could involve a public health initiative encouraging individuals to use bug spray for protection, educating health care professionals, or even enhancing local trash pickup to reduce stagnant water areas where mosquitoes carrying diseases breed.
Mosquitoes are evolving. In regions where illnesses such as malaria and dengue are prevalent, global warming can extend the duration of the high-risk periods.
Clare suggests that what is happening globally serves as a caution for what the UK may experience in the future. She notes that these mosquitoes are now a permanent presence in southern Europe.
These insects are incredibly adaptable. They can modify their behavior and even their physical characteristics to fit into any environment they inhabit. They have even discovered ways to endure winters beneath the ground in chillier climates.
If we maintain our current path without significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, she asserts, our climate will become significantly more hospitable for these mosquitoes. "They will be able to endure our winters."
Worldwide, there has been a significant surge in the number of dengue cases reported to the World Health Organization over the past twenty years. In 2000, the reported cases were around half a million, but by 2023, the figure had escalated to a staggering 4.5 million cases.
Typically, the illness is not severe and results in a high temperature lasting for a week. The majority of individuals recuperate. However, in places already grappling with the disease, the strain on healthcare systems is escalating. In Bangladesh, close to 1,000 individuals succumbed to the disease during an outbreak earlier this year, which was associated with unusually heavy monsoon rains and filthy, still water that provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Dr. Dung Phung, a researcher at the University of Queensland who also serves as a clinician at a hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, notes that the nation is currently experiencing disease outbreaks in mountainous areas where such diseases have not previously been detected.
The healthcare system is currently facing increasing strain, with the frequent occurrence of several patients having to occupy a single bed.
The healthcare professional and scientist is engaged in a preliminary alert mechanism named E-Dengue. Currently in its initial stage, the system aims to forecast disease outbreaks two months ahead. Its forthcoming stage involves transforming it into a publicly accessible software system and online application.
"He clarifies that this allows us to rally the community to take preemptive steps, instead of waiting for a disaster to strike."
Predicting disease spread
The concept of these preliminary alert systems is to amalgamate information from multiple resources to construct an accurate representation of the connection between climate and the spread of diseases.
Meteorological data is collected by weather stations with precision, drones aid in pinpointing mosquito breeding grounds, and researchers compile details from local residents and health officials.
A potent supercomputer utilizes the provided data to construct the forecasting models. The method is currently employed in a project known as Harmonize. It is under trial in several countries such as Brazil, Columbia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Importantly, there is hope that it can be modified and implemented wherever necessary.
Rachel asserts that the aim of these forecasting instruments is to avert diseases before they occur and to optimally distribute resources to the regions that need them the most. This approach would not only result in financial savings, but also in the preservation of lives.
Health protection authorities in the UK have already initiated precautionary steps. They have set up mosquito traps at key locations such as airports and ports to check if mosquitos carrying dengue are making their way into the nation.
Clare conducts some of that task – utilizing a method known as DNA barcoding to determine the type of mosquito caught in those traps.
If you had informed me at the beginning that I would be monitoring dengue mosquitoes in the UK, it would have taken me aback.
"We have observed the news originating from nations in Europe and North America, so it's no longer unexpected."
Is a health day at COP going to have an impact? Nevertheless, specialists concur that since climate change and human health are intimately linked, the best preventive strategy would be to reduce emissions.
"Rachel insists that health should be the focal point of all discussions surrounding climate change. She further emphasizes that both health and justice should be fundamental considerations when planning climate action."
Clare stated, "There's a direct correlation between our health and our climate, which is evident in mosquito-borne diseases. The issue is set to escalate and won't disappear. Hence, greater scrutiny, increased monetary support and greater emphasis on these matters is appreciated."
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