Infectious Diseases, Health and Climate Change

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 3374

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland
Interests: climate change and infectious diseases; geostatistical modelling; forecasting

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The interplay between climate change, health, and the spread of infectious diseases represents a critical and growing global challenge. This Special Issue aims to explore how changing climatic/environmental conditions (such as rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and extreme climatic events) are reshaping the landscape of public health and infectious disease dynamics. By examining these complex relationships, this Special Issue seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which climate change influences disease outbreaks, transmission patterns, and the overall burden on healthcare systems.

The focus of this Special Issue lies in the multidisciplinary research that addresses the relationship between infectious diseases and climate change, encompassing the biological, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: the impact of climate change/variability on vector-borne, water-borne, food-borne, and zoonotic diseases; the role of extreme weather events in exacerbating disease outbreaks; short- and long-term forecasting of disease scenarios; and the implications for vulnerable populations in both developing and developed worlds.

We invite contributions that leverage diverse methodologies, including epidemiological studies, climate modeling, public health interventions, and policy analyses. Emphasis is placed on actionable insights that can guide mitigation strategies, adaptation measures, and health system preparedness to address climate-driven health risks effectively.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to serve as a platform for cutting-edge research, fostering collaboration across disciplines, and informing stakeholders—including policymakers, healthcare providers, and researchers—on how to navigate the emerging health challenges posed by a changing climate. 

Dr. Bryan Nyawanda
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • climate change
  • climate models
  • epidemics
  • disease outbreaks
  • infectious diseases
  • vector-borne diseases
  • water- and food-borne diseases
  • forecasting
  • re-emerging diseases

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

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16 pages, 1179 KB  
Review
Impact of El Nino Southern Oscillation and Climate Change on Infectious Diseases with Ophthalmic Manifestations
by Crystal Huang, Caleb M. Yeh, Claire Ufongene, Tolulope Fashina, R. V. Paul Chan, Jessica G. Shantha, Steven Yeh and Jean-Claude Mwanza
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(10), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10100297 - 18 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1785
Abstract
Climate change and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events have been increasingly linked to infectious disease outbreaks. While growing evidence has connected climate variability with systemic illnesses, the ocular implications remain underexplored. This study aimed to assess the relationships between ENSO-driven climate [...] Read more.
Climate change and the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events have been increasingly linked to infectious disease outbreaks. While growing evidence has connected climate variability with systemic illnesses, the ocular implications remain underexplored. This study aimed to assess the relationships between ENSO-driven climate events and infectious diseases with ophthalmic consequences. A narrative review of 255 articles was conducted, focusing on infectious diseases influenced by ENSO and their associated ocular findings. 39 articles met criteria for full review, covering diseases such as dengue, zika, chikungunya, malaria, leishmaniasis, leptospirosis, and Rift Valley fever. Warmer temperatures, increased rainfall, and humidity associated with ENSO events were found to enhance vector activity and disease transmission. Ocular complications included uveitis, retinopathy, and optic neuropathy, but the specific disease findings varied by infectious disease syndrome. The climactic variable changes in response to ENSO events differed across diseases and regions and were influenced by geography, local infrastructure, and socioeconomic factors. ENSO event-related climate shifts significantly impact the spread of infectious diseases with ocular symptoms. These findings highlight the need for region-specific surveillance and predictive models that may provide insight related to the risk of ophthalmic disease during ENSO events. Further research is needed to clarify long-term ENSO effects and develop integrated strategies for systemic and eye disease detection, prevention, and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, Health and Climate Change)
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7 pages, 954 KB  
Commentary
Climate, Interventions, and Malaria Outcomes in a Warming World: Towards Climate-Smart Malaria Control in Kenya
by Bryan O. Nyawanda, Eric Ochomo, James D. Otieno, Kibor Keitany, Beatrice K. Machini and Penelope Vounatsou
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(12), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10120335 - 27 Nov 2025
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Abstract
Malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa lies at the intersection of changing climate suitability and the scale-up of vector control and case management. Drawing on recent evidence from Kenya, we argue that climate variability already exerts effects on malaria outcomes comparable to, and sometimes [...] Read more.
Malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa lies at the intersection of changing climate suitability and the scale-up of vector control and case management. Drawing on recent evidence from Kenya, we argue that climate variability already exerts effects on malaria outcomes comparable to, and sometimes stronger than, those of commonly measured interventions at local scales. Transmission dynamics display non-linear, lagged relationships with temperature and rainfall. As a result, climate change is expected to alter prevailing conditions and extremes, reshaping the geography and seasonality of malaria risk. At the same time, socio-economic development and vector control intervention such as insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and timely case management continue to reduce malaria incidence and deaths, especially among young children. However, their population-level impact depends on when and where interventions are deployed relative to climate-favoured windows of transmission. We propose a practical agenda for “climate-smart” malaria control in Kenya advocating for dynamic targeting of interventions according to observed climate lags and thresholds, sustaining protection for the youngest, and innovating approaches for school-age reservoirs of infection. Access to effective care should be re-conceptualized as a climate-adaptation strategy, and short-term, locally tailored forecasts should be embedded into routine planning to support anticipatory and equitable malaria control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Infectious Diseases, Health and Climate Change)
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