Climate Change and Public Health

Climate change is affecting the lives of millions of people in many ways. It poses a large threat to public health, in general, as the rising temperatures and side effects of climate change negatively affect people’s health. Climate change is affecting many social and environmental determinants of health. The rise in temperatures across the globe affects elements from the air we breathe to the water we drink and the food that we eat. Climate change also contributes to the rise of infectious diseases, most significantly in countries stricken with poverty. According to recent studies, floods, heat waves, and droughts have caused significant rises (~58%) in diseases such as malaria, hantavirus, cholera, and anthrax. This article from NPHIC explains how climate change is affecting public health.