Mosquitoes and Ticks Will Adapt and Thrive in a Changing Climate: Health Systems Urgently Need to Prepare

Kristie L. Ebi

Abstract

Changing weather patterns because of climate change are altering the health burden of potentially hundreds to vectorborne diseases; any disease that is seasonal may be affected. Climate change has accelerated since 2015, worsening the situation. Changing weather patterns will continue for decades, at least, with regional variability in the rate and extent of warming temperatures and consequent changes in precipitation patterns and extreme weather and climate events. Health researchers and practitioners should be on the forefront of generating the evidence required to inform health-related policies and programs, including in other sectors, to prepare for and manage the risks.

References

1.
Ebi, K.L. Methods for quantifying, projecting, and managing the health risks of climate change. NEJM Evid. 2022, 1. https://doi.org/10.1056/EVIDra2200002.
2.
Romanello, M.; Walawender, M.; Hsu, S.; et al. The 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Climate change action offers a lifeline. Lancet 2025, 406, 2804–2857.
3.
Cissé, G.; McLeman, R.; Adams, H.; et al. Health, Wellbeing, and the Changing Structure of Communities. In Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Pörtner, H.-O., Roberts, D.C., Tignor, M.; et al., Eds.; Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK, pp. 1041–1170. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009325844.009.
4.
Ebi, K.L.; Haines, A.; Andrade, R.F.S.; et al. The attribution of human health outcomes to climate change: A transdisciplinary guidance document. Clim. Chang. 2025, 178, 143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-025-03976-7.
5.
Childs, M.L.; Lyberger, K.; Harris, M. et al. Climate warming is expanding dengue burden in the Americas and Asia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2025, 122, e2512350122. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2512350122.
6.
Green, C.; Andrijevic, M.; Hess, J.J.; et al. Navigating Global Health Futures under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. Under Review; Available online: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=6767218 (accessed on 5 June 2026).
7.
Boyer, C.J.; Ebi, K.L.; Hess, J.J. et al. Assessing the implementation of climate and health adaptation in Pacific Island jurisdictions. Health Aff. 2026, 45, 555–561. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01661.
8.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Adaptation Gap Report 2023; Underfinanced, underprepared; UNEP: Nairobi, Kenya; 2023; 112p. Available online: https://www.unep.org/resources/adaptation-gap-report-2023 (accessed on 5 June 2026).
9.
Moutet, L.; Barnard, P.; Green, R.; et al. The public health co-benefits of strategies consistent with net-zero emissions: A systematic review. Lancet Planet. Health 2025, 9, e145–e156.
10.
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion. May 2026. Available online: https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml (accessed on 5 June 2026).
11.
Floridi, A.; Anda-Leon, M.A.; Kozakiewicz, T.; et al. Effects of El Nino and the Positive Indian Ocean Dipole (+IOD) on health, food security, economics, and conflict in low- and middle-income countries in the Indo-Pacific: A systematic review. Campbell Syst. Rev. 2025, 21, e70038. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12004400/pdf/CL2-21-e70038.pdf.
12.
Palmeiro-Silva, Y.K.; Llerena-Cayo, C.; Bauhoff, S.; et al. Progress, challenges, and lessons for climate resilience and low carbon health systems. Rev. De Saude Publica USP 2026, 60, e24. https://doi.org/10.11606/s1518-8787.2026060007430.

Scilight Press

Author Information

Abstract

Keywords

References

About Scilight

Journals

Publishing Policies

Contact Us