Climate Crisis Fuels Health Issues in South America

Surging cases of yellow fever and dengue in South America highlight the growing health crisis exacerbated by climate change. This year alone, there have been 356 reported cases of yellow fever and 152 deaths, primarily in the Amazon region, according to figures from the Pan American Health Organization.

This marks the largest number of yellow fever cases for any year in the continent since 1960, apart from spikes in 2017 and 2018. The current wave of yellow fever coincides with a troubling increase in dengue cases, with Brazil reporting nearly 6.5 million cases and about 5,000 deaths in 2024.

Both yellow fever and dengue are transmitted by the Aedes species of mosquito, which thrive in warmer temperatures and stagnant water. Experts warn that the climate crisis is expanding the range of these disease-carrying mosquitoes, pushing them into regions previously considered temperate, such as parts of Europe.

The United Nations climate talks, currently taking place in Belem, Brazil, have acknowledged health as a critical area impacted by climate change, promoting a new initiative—the Belem Health Action Plan.

This plan, led by the Brazilian government and the World Health Organization, aims to enhance countries' capabilities to manage climate-related health issues. A coalition of 35 philanthropic organizations has pledged $300 million to support this initiative.

Simon Stiell, the UN's climate chief, emphasized that health is a top priority in the fight against climate change, noting the need for countries to prepare for the health challenges posed by rising temperatures, floods, and storms.

However, health experts express concern that more must be done to tackle the fallout from extreme weather. Maria Guevara from Doctors Without Borders highlighted the necessity for improved responses to outbreaks exacerbated by climate-related conditions.

She pointed out that deforestation and urbanization are bringing humans closer to animals that can transmit diseases, complicating the fight against these outbreaks. The climate crisis has created a perfect storm for the proliferation of infectious diseases, with rising temperatures and increased rainfall facilitating mosquito reproduction and virus transmission.

Rachel Vicente, an expert from Brazil's Federal University of Espírito Santo, noted that the combination of high temperatures and abundant rain has led to increased yellow fever and dengue cases even outside the Amazon region.

The overlap of climate change with public health issues has gained more attention in recent years, but experts warn that the necessary actions to combat this trend have yet to be fully implemented. As climate advocates push for urgent global action, the reality remains stark: the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue but a public health crisis that demands immediate attention.