The Role of Climate Change in the Unprecedented Increase of Dengue Fever Cases Worldwide

Scientists believe that climate change and global warming play a significant role in the unprecedented rise in dengue fever cases. Dengue fever, transmitted through the bite of the Aedes mosquito, has affected over ten million people so far this year. According to scientists, the increase in global temperatures has expanded the life cycle and geographical range of these mosquitoes. Rising temperatures cause the Aedes mosquito to grow faster, bite more, and lay more eggs. Additionally, heat has made the dengue virus more contagious and accelerated its replication in hosts. Besides global warming, increasing droughts and storms also contribute to the spread of dengue fever. Malori Harris, a climate disease specialist at Stanford University, told the Washington Post that increasing storms and floods create stagnant waters and simultaneously expose people displaced by these storms to Aedes mosquito bites. These weather conditions also force individuals to store more water, thereby creating more suitable environments for Aedes mosquito breeding. Analyzing Storm Yaku, which hit the coasts of Peru in March 2023, Harris concluded that this storm was responsible for 33,000 cases of dengue fever. In Iran, the number of dengue fever patients has increased to over 120, with the Ministry of Health reporting one death. In Israel, media reported on Sunday, July 1, an increase in cases of West Nile virus, a type of dengue fever, with more patients identified and hospitalized in several other cities. The Israeli Ministry of Health reported on July 1 that 81 patients had been hospitalized due to this virus, identified within a few days. Dengue fever, also known as 'breakbone fever,' presents symptoms such as high fever, headache, body aches, pain behind the eyes, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and skin rashes. In severe cases, patients experience mucosal bleeding, requiring special care and hospitalization. Currently, there is no treatment for this virus, and public awareness and access to available vaccines are very limited. The dengue virus has several different serotypes, which exhibit an unusual pattern in causing severe diseases in individuals, making the development of an appropriate vaccine challenging. Experts recommend that individuals apply insect repellents when going outside and even at home, dry areas where water collects, and keep fans on to repel mosquitoes.