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Review
. 2024 Apr 1;65(4):211-219.
doi: 10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2023-180. Epub 2024 Apr 23.

Climate change and its impact on infectious diseases in Asia

Amanda Zain  1   2 , Sapna P Sadarangani  3   4   5 , Lynette Pei-Chi Shek  1   2 , Shawn Vasoo  3   4   5
Affiliations
Review

Climate change and its impact on infectious diseases in Asia

Amanda Zain et al. Singapore Med J. .

Abstract

Climate change, particularly increasing temperature, changes in rainfall, extreme weather events and changes in vector ecology, impacts the transmission of many climate-sensitive infectious diseases. Asia is the world's most populous, rapidly evolving and diverse continent, and it is already experiencing the effects of climate change. Climate change intersects with population, sociodemographic and geographical factors, amplifying the public health impact of infectious diseases and potentially widening existing disparities. In this narrative review, we outline the evidence of the impact of climate change on infectious diseases of importance in Asia, including vector-borne diseases, food- and water-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and other infectious diseases. We also highlight the imperative need for strategic intersectoral collaboration at the national and global levels and for the health sector to implement adaptation and mitigation measures, including responsibility for its own greenhouse gas emissions.

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Conflict of interest statement

Vasoo S is a member of the SMJ Editorial Board and was thus not involved in the peer review and publication decisions of this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A framework of how climate change interacts with other natural and human variables that may amplify the risk of infectious diseases. AMR: antimicrobial resistance, ENSO: El Niño–Southern Oscillation, WASH: water, sanitation and hygiene, VBD: vector-borne disease
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Healthcare and environmental sustainability.
    Ang TL, Choolani M, Poh KK. Ang TL, et al. Singapore Med J. 2024 Apr 1;65(4):203. doi: 10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2024-068. Epub 2024 Apr 23. Singapore Med J. 2024. PMID: 38650057 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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