AliceThroughTheLookingGlass (@nansgarden.bsky.social)

Climate-fueled storms are making disease outbreaks worse worldwide When dengue pops up in places like Florida, Texas, or California, it can feel like a glitch in the system – a “tropical disease” wandering into the wrong country. However, a new study says that’s not the case. Instead, it is what happens when warmer temperatures and heavier rain become more common, creating perfect conditions for mosquitoes and the viruses they carry. To make that case, researchers looked at Peru, where a 2023 cyclone hit a normally dry region and was followed by a huge dengue outbreak. The study doesn’t just say “storms can lead to disease outbreaks.” It actually estimates how many dengue cases were tied to the storm and shows how climate change is making that kind of weather more likely. “Health impacts of climate change aren’t something we’re waiting for,” said lead author Mallory Harris, now a postdoc at the University of Maryland. “They’re happening now.” When standing water meets heat Dengue is spread mainly by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. It can cause fever and rash, and in severe cases it can become life-threatening, with hemorrhage and shock. Globally, it’s been rising fast. The study notes that dengue sickens tens of millions of people each... https://www.earth.com/news/climate-fueled-storms-are-making-disease-outbreaks-worse-worldwide/