Climate Change Fuels Global Dengue Surge
ECONOMY & POLICY

Climate Change Fuels Global Dengue Surge

Amid a record year for dengue infections globally, climate change has been identified as a key driver behind the disease's surge. A new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) has attributed 19% of the rising dengue burden to climate change.

The research, led by Stanford and Harvard Universities, offers the strongest evidence yet of the link between rising temperatures and increasing dengue infections. The analysis predicts a potential 40-60% spike in cases by 2050, with some regions, including parts of Latin America, facing up to a 200% increase.

India is among the nations grappling with a surge in dengue cases this year, reflecting the global trend. In the Americas, reported cases have skyrocketed to nearly 12 million in 2024, up from 4.6 million in 2023. Locally acquired infections in California and Florida highlight the disease's expanding footprint.

“We found a clear and direct relationship between rising temperatures and rising infections,” said Erin Mordecai, infectious disease ecologist at Stanford's Woods Institute for the Environment. “Our data suggest the impact of climate change on dengue could get much worse.”

While efforts to moderate global warming by reducing emissions could temper dengue's spread, the study notes that even with significant carbon cuts, 17 out of 21 countries analyzed will still see climate-driven increases in infections.

The findings emphasize the urgency of addressing climate change, as areas newly entering the 20–29°C "sweet spot" for dengue transmission—such as parts of Peru, Mexico, and Brazil—face the most dramatic risks. Researchers warn infections in these regions could rise by 150-200% over the next few decades.

With no specific treatments and limited vaccine adoption, combating dengue's growing threat requires global climate action to mitigate future impacts.

Amid a record year for dengue infections globally, climate change has been identified as a key driver behind the disease's surge. A new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) has attributed 19% of the rising dengue burden to climate change. The research, led by Stanford and Harvard Universities, offers the strongest evidence yet of the link between rising temperatures and increasing dengue infections. The analysis predicts a potential 40-60% spike in cases by 2050, with some regions, including parts of Latin America, facing up to a 200% increase. India is among the nations grappling with a surge in dengue cases this year, reflecting the global trend. In the Americas, reported cases have skyrocketed to nearly 12 million in 2024, up from 4.6 million in 2023. Locally acquired infections in California and Florida highlight the disease's expanding footprint. “We found a clear and direct relationship between rising temperatures and rising infections,” said Erin Mordecai, infectious disease ecologist at Stanford's Woods Institute for the Environment. “Our data suggest the impact of climate change on dengue could get much worse.” While efforts to moderate global warming by reducing emissions could temper dengue's spread, the study notes that even with significant carbon cuts, 17 out of 21 countries analyzed will still see climate-driven increases in infections. The findings emphasize the urgency of addressing climate change, as areas newly entering the 20–29°C sweet spot for dengue transmission—such as parts of Peru, Mexico, and Brazil—face the most dramatic risks. Researchers warn infections in these regions could rise by 150-200% over the next few decades. With no specific treatments and limited vaccine adoption, combating dengue's growing threat requires global climate action to mitigate future impacts.

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

IICA & CMAI Ink MoU to Boost India's Carbon Markets & Decarbonisation

In a major step toward strengthening India’s carbon markets and advancing decarbonisation efforts, the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and the Carbon Market Association of India (CMAI) formalized their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi. The agreement was announced during the IICA-CMAI Masterclass on Global & Indian Carbon Markets, held as part of India Climate Week. The event was attended by key government officials, including the Union Minister for Road, Transport & Highways, who emphasized the importance of biofuels and green hydrogen in sh..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

Kavach Installation on Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata Route Extended to Dec ’25

The Railway Board has extended the deadline for the installation of the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, Kavach, on the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata routes from March to December 2025. According to the revised railway budget estimates for 2025-26, track-side equipment for Kavach Version 4.0 will be installed across the 3,000 km stretch by the end of 2025, with work progressing on the remaining sections. Indian Railways adopted Kavach as the national ATP system in 2020, with the latest specification for Version 4.0 approved in July 2024. The project includes the installation of Kava..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

CRS Inspects Newly Doubled Nawada-Tilaiya Rail Section in ECR

The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Eastern Circle, Kolkata, Suvomoy Mitra conducted an inspection of the newly doubled Nawada-Tilaiya section under the Kiul-Gaya doubling project in Danapur Division. The inspection included a thorough assessment of the newly constructed double line and bridges in the section. As part of the evaluation, a speed trial was successfully carried out at 120 km/h using a special train between Nawada and Tilaiya. The inspection was attended by the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Danapur Division, Jayant Kumar Choudhary, along with senior officials from the..

Advertisement

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?