Climate change raises major disease risks for Australia

As global temperatures rise, Australia's northern regions face an increased risk of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. The Anopheles mosquitoes transmit malaria while the Aedes mosquitoes spread dengue, both of which flourish in warm, humid conditions with higher rainfall. Monash University researchers examined how climate change and other factors contribute to the escalating disease risks in a study published on Monday.

Higher temperatures expand dengue transmission to higher altitudes and temperate regions previously unaffected by the disease. While southern Australia is not at risk of malaria, dengue fever poses a threat in warmer areas like far north Queensland. Co-author Katie Anders cautioned that the risk of dengue outbreaks could extend further south as temperatures rise.

Areas in southern Europe and the southern United States, previously unaccustomed to dengue, are experiencing local outbreaks, a concern Anders expressed to AAP. The increasing global dengue rates contrast with malaria's general decline, attributed to effective interventions like improved drugs and risk-reduction campaigns. Anders also noted that tropical urbanization aids dengue transmission, as Aedes mosquitoes prefer urban settings over rural areas where malaria typically thrives.

Recent advancements, including a new dengue vaccine and Wolbachia bacteria, which diminish mosquitoes' virus-transmission ability, have nearly eliminated dengue outbreaks in northern Queensland over the past decade. Anders emphasized the potential to curb the growing dengue challenge by rapidly scaling up these effective tools.