This paper examines key public health concerns linked to global climate change, focusing on two major threats: the expanded transmission of vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika, dengue, and malaria, and the worsening of food insecurity caused by drought. The paper explains how shifting climate conditions alter the distribution, seasonality, and epidemiology of mosquito-transmitted diseases, drawing comparisons between the United States and Bulgaria. It also discusses how drought contributes to agricultural collapse and hunger, particularly in Africa and South Asia. The paper concludes by outlining health promotion strategies — mediation, enabling, and advocacy — that nurses can implement to address these climate-driven health challenges.
Scientific research has demonstrated that climate change affects the health of humanity. The impact on health varies according to the immunity of the individuals in question and their local environmental conditions (Paz, 2015). One significant effect of climate change is the spread of vector-borne diseases such as West Nile virus (WNV), dengue, and malaria. Through changes in climate, the rate of infection, distribution, and seasonality of these diseases have changed substantially. This is because vector-borne diseases continually adjust to changes in the environment (Gleick, 2014). Climate influences the distribution of these diseases as well as their epidemiology. Weather elements such as humidity, precipitation, and temperature affect the survival rates of vectors, their reproduction rates, habitat adaptability, abundance, and distribution. Climate change also affects the intensity of vector activity throughout the year, which in turn influences the development rate, reproduction rate, and the ability of pathogens to survive within those vectors.
West Nile virus belongs to the genus Flavivirus and the family Flaviviridae, which comprises more than 70 other viruses. In serological terms, WNV belongs to the Japanese encephalitis serocomplex (Gleick, 2014). The virus can be categorized into five phylogenetic lineages, but disease outbreaks in humans are attributed to only lineages 1 and 2. The virus is continuously transmitted to susceptible bird species as mosquitoes feed on their blood. The mosquitoes responsible for transmitting this virus are species from the genus Culex and the family Culicidae. This transmission cycle is present in both urban and rural ecosystems. Beyond birds, the virus is known to infect horses, humans, and other mammals. The distribution of West Nile virus depends on the availability of susceptible bird reservoirs, competent mosquito vectors, the presence of suitable hosts, and mosquito host preference.
One of the most serious threats posed by climate change is drought. In Syria, for example, prolonged drought forced thousands of refugees to migrate to Europe. The delayed response from donors and poor planning contributed to the deaths of thousands of people in the Horn of Africa between 2011 and 2012 (Gleick, 2014). A UN body was subsequently established to provide early warning for similar droughts, but associated disasters have not yet been fully curtailed.
Drought can be examined from several angles. When rainfall fails, the result is a meteorological drought. When rainfall is absent for a prolonged period — causing rivers to dry up and water tables to drop — the outcome is a hydrological drought (Gleick, 2014). When water scarcity leads to crop failure and the death of livestock, this is known as an agricultural drought, which can ultimately lead to human deaths as well.
According to Paz (2015), establishing an international body dedicated to drought forecasting and mitigation has proven difficult, largely because of the significant funding such efforts require. Current international agencies have largely passed the responsibility of declaring droughts to national governments, treating it as a politically sensitive and partly subjective matter. Although a UN climate event was convened in New York, no meaningful further progress was realized.
"Mosquito disease burden compared across two countries"
"Nursing roles in mediation, enabling, and advocacy"
Climate change poses compounding risks to global public health, from the spread of vector-borne diseases to widespread food insecurity driven by drought. The experiences of both the United States and Bulgaria illustrate that no region is immune to these challenges. Nurses and other health professionals have a critical role to play through mediation, community enabling, and sustained advocacy, ensuring that health systems and populations are better prepared to respond to a changing climate.
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