UN warns super El Niño a 'significant' threat to world health

The United Nations has issued a warning that a particularly intense El Nino climate cycle poses a significant threat to global health. El Nino, driven by warming surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, is expected to bring higher temperatures along with periods of extreme drought and flooding. These conditions have already been observed from Central America to Indonesia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that heavy rainfall resulting from El Nino could foster the growth of cholera and insects such as mosquitoes, leading to a rise in illnesses including malaria, chikungunya, and dengue fever. Teresa Zakaria, WHO’s Unit Head for Risk Reduction, Humanitarian Operations and Climate Change, expressed concern that "the most severe impacts will be experienced while climate shocks intersect with weak health systems, limited access to healthcare, food insecurity, displacement and humanitarian crisis."

The UN has labeled El Nino a "significant public health threat" and a "risk multiplier," urging countries to take immediate action to mitigate these impacts and prevent loss of lives and suffering. Zakaria emphasized the importance of acting now, before the risks escalate into a crisis.

In September, the World Meteorological Organization forecasted that the current El Nino is predicted to be the strongest since records began four decades ago, with effects on the world's climate continuing into 2027. While El Nino is not directly caused by climate change, scientists anticipate it will exacerbate the warming already occurring due to human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, and intensify extreme weather conditions.

Armel Castellan, an adviser on extreme heat at the WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Programme, noted that this El Nino, coupled with already record-breaking temperatures, makes it a unique event.