From Heat to Outbreak: How Climate Change Fuels Tropical Diseases

Abstract

Introduction:
Climate change has emerged as a major global health threat, reshaping the distribution and transmission of tropical diseases. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and altered ecosystems create favourable conditions for vectors such as mosquitoes, accelerating disease transmission and expanding risk into previously unaffected regions. This poster aims to highlight the relationship between climate change and the increasing burden of tropical diseases, and to emphasise the importance of prevention and community action.

Method:
This poster was developed using a narrative review approach based on global health reports and peer-reviewed literature related to climate change and vector-borne diseases. Key themes were synthesised to illustrate the pathway linking climate change to disease transmission and to summarise preventive strategies at the community level.

Results:
Climate change contributes to longer warm seasons, increased rainfall, and ecological disruption, which collectively enhance vector survival, breeding, and geographic expansion. These environmental changes accelerate mosquito life cycles, increase biting frequency, and shorten pathogen incubation periods, leading to higher transmission rates. Consequently, diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and leishmaniasis are expanding into new populations. Globally, vector-borne diseases affect over one billion people annually and cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Communities with limited sanitation, poor environmental management, and low awareness are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks.

Conclusion:
Climate change is transforming the landscape of tropical diseases and increasing the risk of future outbreaks. Strengthening public awareness, improving vector control, and promoting climate-responsive community actions are essential to reduce disease burden. Addressing climate change is therefore a critical step in protecting global health and preventing the next outbreak.

Keywords: climate change, tropical diseases, vector-borne diseases, vector control