Human-caused climate change has a complex effect on insect-borne diseases. Many may be spreading more, but effective strategies exist to manage this risk. These strategies are available to all countries, rich and poor.
llnesses carried and transmitted by mosquitoes, such as malaria, dengue fever and encephalitis (the latter also spread by ticks), are likely to spread more widely in a warming world. Other insect-borne diseases such as Lyme disease (spread by ticks), leishmaniasis (spread by sandflies) and West Nile fever (spread by mosquitoes) should be closely watched so the impact of climate change on them can be assessed — especially in tandem with the effects of urbanisation and expanding human encroachment into ecosystems.
As the world’s temperatures increase, summers are lasting longer and the life cycles of many insects — and the microbes or parasites they carry – are speeding up. Many insects and parasites mature earlier and breed more often. They can also go through more life cycles in a year, and the insects might bite more frequently.
