“Climate Crisis and Rising Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Médecins sans Frontières Raises Concerns”

From dengue to malaria and Lyme. Médecins sans Frontières expresses its concerns in the House of Representatives about these diseases, which are transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks. The humanitarian aid organization sees the consequences of the climate crisis in its consulting rooms every day. Rising temperatures could even allow the life-threatening diseases to resurface in countries where they were previously eliminated.

New habitat for mosquitoes
More and more people are experiencing extreme weather conditions. Think of long periods of drought, but also larger amounts of rain and less cold winters. In these circumstances crops fail and food shortages arise. At the same time, mosquitoes can reproduce in more and more areas. MSF treats an increasing number of patients suffering from acute malnutrition and diseases such as malaria. The malaria mosquito is already appearing in areas where the disease previously did not exist or hardly occurred. And the tiger mosquito, which can cause dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika, has already established itself in popular holiday destinations such as Spain and Italy. Italy has already experienced two outbreaks of chikungunya, affecting hundreds of people.

Malaria season 1.5 months longer
Not only the habitats of mosquitoes and ticks are changing,; due to the higher temperatures, insects come out of hibernation earlier in the year and remain active until later in the autumn. Mosquitoes can thus produce several generations per year. In various parts of Africa, MSF teams see that the season in which the malaria mosquito thrives is extending by more than a month and a half. The teams therefore find it unbelievable that the effects of the climate crisis on people’s health still receive insufficient attention, also in the Netherlands. During a roundtable discussion in the House of Representatives about the International Climate Strategy (IKS) in March, the aid organization expressed its concerns.

Opportunities for the cabinet

Médecins sans Frontières calls specific attention to the fight against malaria. The disease still claims more than 619,000 deaths every year, of which more than 90% on the African continent. At least 8 out of 10 malaria patients treated by the aid organization are children under the age of five. Global warming will only increase these numbers, and vector diseases such as malaria will increasingly cause health problems. There are not only opportunities for the government there, but also responsibilities. The Netherlands must act: the climate crisis will have an enormous effect on the spread of tropical and indigenous vector diseases. Countries that have contributed the least to the crisis are already being hit the hardest.

This concerns us all

The climate crisis, in combination with travel and increasing globalization, plays an important role in the spread of tropical infectious diseases. Doctors Without Borders therefore not only offers medical assistance, but also works hard to prevent diseases. With information and vaccination campaigns, and by making policymakers aware of the needs. They too must do everything possible for people’s health. The climate crisis concerns us all.