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Scientists’ battle against diseases exacerbated by climate change
“We are detectable by them,” states Dr. Clare Strode.
She meticulously transports a wire enclosure filled with mosquitoes through her lab situated in Lancashire, in the northwestern region of England. Specifically, these are Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, one of the two types identified as carriers of the dengue virus, which they spread to millions globally through their bites.
These specific mosquitoes, which live in a lab, are free from any infections and are confined within a cage. Most of them gravitate towards the mesh wall nearest to the researcher. They are in need of food.
Clare is researching bugs to comprehend the global transmission of dengue and the impact of climate change on its proliferation.
Leaders from around the world are convening in Dubai for the most recent iteration of the UN’s international climate discussions, COP28. Specialists assert that global warming is presently having a significant impact on worldwide health.
Sunday marks the inaugural “health day” at any climate COP since its inception 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 due to its urgency.
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Dengue is typically a disease found in tropical regions, but recently it has made its way to Europe. A mosquito associated with dengue, known as the Asian tiger mosquito, has even been detected in monitoring traps in Kent, UK.
This all serves as proof of the way bugs are adjusting to different climates and habitats. The hotter, more humid conditions associated with climate change are aiding certain mosquitoes, which carry diseases, to flourish.
Researchers, however, are combating this issue. They are integrating bug monitoring with weather predictions to devise methods to foresee and brace for upcoming disease outbreaks.
Scientists believe that taking preventative measures is more effective than treatment. Predicting where future epidemics may occur could potentially rescue millions of people. A project, sponsored by the Wellcome Trust, is currently working on creating these forecasting tools in a dozen countries.
Dr. Rachel Lowe, the head of the global health resilience team at the Barcelona Supercomputer Centre in Spain, clarified: “We are utilizing satellite photos, gathering information from drones and climate sensors.”
Integrating this data with insights from field researchers who are on the hunt for mosquitoes, she stated, “provides a more comprehensive knowledge of how alterations in climate and land usage have affected diseases transmitted by insects.”
The research is focused on studying weather trends, identifying still water bodies that serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and observing other elements that contribute to an outbreak. The goal is to develop advanced alert systems, which will aid communities in preparing beforehand.
The readiness could take the shape of a public health initiative encouraging individuals to safeguard themselves using bug spray, educating medical professionals, or even boosting community garbage pick-up to reduce stagnant water where mosquitoes carrying diseases breed.
Mosquitoes are evolving. In regions where illnesses such as malaria and dengue are prevalent, global warming has the potential to extend the periods of high risk.
Clare points out that what is happening in other parts of the globe serves as a cautionary tale for what lies ahead in the UK. She notes that these mosquitoes have made their home in Southern Europe.
These insects are incredibly versatile. They can modify their actions and even their bodily functions to fit any environment they inhabit. They’ve even discovered ways to endure winter by taking shelter underground in chillier regions.
If we continue on this path without significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, our climate will become increasingly suitable for mosquito survival. “They’ll manage to endure our winter seasons,” she comments.
Around the world, there has been a significant rise in dengue cases reported to the World Health Organization over the past twenty years. In the year 2000, the cases reported were half a million, but by 2023, the number of reported cases had escalated to 4.5 million.
This disease typically presents as a light illness, often causing a high temperature that can last up to a week. The majority of individuals tend to recover. However, in nations where the disease is already prevalent, the strain on healthcare systems is increasing. For instance, in Bangladesh earlier this year, an outbreak resulting in almost 1,000 fatalities was associated with unusually rainy monsoons and the filthy, still water which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Dr Dung Phung, a scholar from the University of Queensland who also serves as a clinician in a Hanoi-based hospital in Vietnam, reports that the nation is currently experiencing outbreaks in mountainous regions that have previously been unaffected by the disease.
The healthcare system is increasingly burdened as it becomes more usual for several patients to occupy a single bed.
The medical professional and scientist is engaged in a preliminary alert mechanism known as E-Dengue. It is currently in the initial stage and seeks to forecast epidemics two months ahead. The subsequent stage will transform it into a publicly accessible software system and online application.
“He explains that this enables us to rally the community to adopt preventive strategies, instead of waiting for a disaster to occur.”
The basic premise of these preliminary alert systems is to amalgamate information from diverse sources, in order to create a comprehensive understanding of the connection between climate and disease spread.
Meteorological data is collected by weather stations with precision on the ground level, while drones assist in locating areas where mosquitoes reproduce. Simultaneously, research personnel compile data from both local communities and health authorities.
A potent supercomputer leverages the data to develop predictive models. This method is being applied in a project named Harmonize. Currently, it’s undergoing trials in several nations such as Brazil, Columbia, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Importantly, the aim is to modify it as needed and implement it globally wherever necessary.
Rachel states that the objective of these forecasting instruments is to pre-emptively avoid illnesses and distribute resources more efficiently to the most needed areas. This way, we can achieve financial efficiency and also save lives.
In the United Kingdom, authorities in charge of health safety have already initiated protective steps. They have set up mosquito traps at crucial locations such as airports and harbors to keep a check on the entry of mosquitos carrying dengue into the nation.
Clare performs some of this task – utilizing a method known as DNA barcoding to determine the mosquito species caught in those traps.
If you had told me at the beginning that I would end up monitoring dengue mosquitoes in the UK, I would have been taken aback.
“We’re no longer taken aback by the news coming from nations in Europe and North America that we’ve observed.”
Is a health-focused day at COP going to have an impact? However, specialists concur that, given the deep-seated link between climate change and human health, the best preventative action would be to reduce emissions.
Rachel emphasizes that health should be the focal point of all discussions regarding climate change. She insists that any measures taken against climate change should be crafted considering health and fairness as fundamental elements.
Clare emphasized, “There’s a clear connection between our health and the climate, as evidenced by diseases spread by mosquitoes. This issue will only amplify, it’s not going to disappear. Therefore, greater spotlight, increased financial support, and an intensified focus on these matters are encouraged.”
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