By Anshika Mishra
Copyright medicaldialogues
A recent study, Published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , highlighted that climate warming is worsening dengue’s impact in India. Rising temperatures have expanded the habitat of the Aedes mosquito, increasing dengue cases across the country. India is among the regions expected to see a significant surge in dengue infections by 2050. The disease thrives at around 27.8°C, making cooler parts of India more vulnerable as temperatures rise. From 1995 to 2014, climate change already caused an estimated 18% increase in dengue cases in Asia, equivalent to over 4.6 million additional infections annually. Without urgent climate action, dengue cases could rise by up to 76% by mid-century. The study underscores India’s urgent need for robust public health strategies like improved mosquito control, enhanced healthcare services, and widespread dengue vaccination. This is crucial since India’s rising temperatures, erratic monsoon patterns, and high population density create fertile ground for the disease. By adopting aggressive climate mitigation and adaptive health measures, India can better protect its citizens and reduce the growing dengue burden. REFERENCE: M.L. Childs,K. Lyberger,M.J. Harris,M. Burke, & E.A. Mordecai, Climate warming is expanding dengue burden in the Americas and Asia, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 122 (37) e2512350122, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2512350122 (2025).
