Climate Change and Rising Disease

Context:

• According to experts, East Africa is experiencing a surge in El Nino-related malaria infections. 

More on News: 

• El Nino rains and widespread flooding: The ongoing heavy El Nino rains and widespread flooding are likely to trigger an outbreak of new malaria infections across the Horn of Africa.

• • Flooding will also provide ideal conditions for mosquito multiplication and malaria’s emergence and/or exacerbation.
• Risk Of Other Diseases: At the same time, displacement, crowding and lack of access to vaccination are likely to increase the risk of diseases such as measles and meningitis,” said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in an alert.
• WHO Warning: While acknowledging that El Nino conditions are likely to trigger an outbreak of multiple diseases, WHO has warned that malaria remains a major threat and a leading public health concern in East Africa. 
  • According to WHO, the region accounts for a quarter of global malaria cases, making it a critical area of focus in the fight against the deadly disease.
• Cholera Outbreak: East Africa is already facing one of the worst cholera outbreaks in years, one of the longest ever recorded in the region.
  • Heavy rainfall and flooding, often leading to increased water contamination, will likely exacerbate and further prolong Cholera outbreaks.

Devastations due to El Nino floods:

• The El Nino conditions have triggered flooding in most parts of the region, including Somalia, Kenya, Burundi, Ethiopia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, leading to loss of lives and livelihoods and human displacement.

Source: Down To Earth