By David Banach of Woodbridge
Climate change is often framed as an environmental issue—rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather. But as a physician and public health advocate, I’ve come to see it as something even more urgent: a growing threat to human health. One of the clearest, yet least discussed, ways climate change is impacting our lives is through infectious diseases.
From vector-borne illnesses to waterborne outbreaks, a warming world is creating the conditions for infectious diseases to emerge, spread, and intensify in new and unexpected ways. If we want to protect public health now and in the future, we must understand this evolving relationship—and act accordingly.
Rising Temperatures, Rising Risk
As global temperatures rise, so too does the habitat range of disease-carrying organisms. Mosquitoes, ticks, and other vectors that thrive in warm, humid environments are now expanding into new regions, bringing diseases with them.
Diseases like West Nile virus, Lyme disease, dengue, and malaria, once limited to specific geographic areas, are appearing in places where they were previously rare or unknown. For example, we’ve seen an increase in tick populations in the northeastern United States, leading to more cases of Lyme disease. Similarly, warmer temperatures and heavier rainfall have contributed to mosquito population booms, increasing the risk of West Nile and other arboviruses.
These shifts are not just a future threat—they are happening now, and the healthcare system must be ready to respond.
Extreme Weather and Outbreaks
Climate change also fuels more frequent and intense weather events—floods, hurricanes, droughts—that can disrupt sanitation systems and create the perfect conditions for outbreaks.
Flooded communities may face contamination of drinking water, leading to gastrointestinal infections like cholera or E. coli. Displaced populations may live in crowded conditions with limited access to healthcare, accelerating the spread of respiratory and skin infections.
Droughts can also drive disease risk by concentrating people and animals around limited water sources, increasing exposure to zoonotic (animal-borne) diseases. In every case, vulnerable communities are hit the hardest, compounding existing health inequities.
As healthcare providers, we must anticipate and respond to these risks—not just with clinical care, but with strong public health partnerships and preventive strategies.
Changing Ecosystems, New Pathogens
Climate change doesn’t just move existing diseases around—it can also contribute to the emergence of new pathogens. As ecosystems shift, so do interactions between wildlife, livestock, and humans. This creates new opportunities for pathogens to jump between species.
We saw this dynamic play out with COVID-19, a stark reminder of how quickly a novel virus can emerge and circle the globe. While the origins of many emerging diseases are complex, environmental disruption—often driven by climate and land use changes—is a known contributor to these spillover events.
As a physician trained in infectious diseases, I believe our preparedness must now account for not just known threats, but those that may still be on the horizon.
Health Systems Must Adapt
Hospitals and clinics are already seeing the effects of climate-driven disease. From increased cases of heat-related illness to changing patterns of infection, frontline providers must adjust how they diagnose, treat, and prevent illness.
We need more robust surveillance systems to detect emerging threats early and training for healthcare workers on the links between climate and health. Electronic health records and regional data sharing can help identify patterns, especially in areas experiencing new or rising infection rates.
Infection prevention programs must also evolve. Warmer temperatures in healthcare facilities may affect how bacteria survive on surfaces. Changing ventilation needs can impact airborne disease control. These are not distant problems—they are part of our everyday practice.
Public Health and Climate Preparedness Go Hand in Hand
Public health and climate preparedness must go hand in hand. This means investing in stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, community education, and equitable access to care.
It also means addressing the social determinants of health—housing, transportation, clean water, and healthcare access—all of which shape how individuals experience and recover from infectious disease outbreaks.
As public health professionals, we must advocate for policies that reduce emissions and support climate resilience. But we must also work locally, engaging communities and preparing them for climate-related health risks.
The Physician’s Role in Climate-Aware Care
Physicians play a key role in this conversation. We can raise awareness among our peers, educate patients, and advocate for climate-informed healthcare policies. We can ask questions that help identify environmental exposures and include climate factors in risk assessments.
In my experience, even a small shift in perspective—such as recognizing that a patient’s infection may be tied to climate or housing conditions—can lead to more effective care. It also empowers us to be more thoughtful in how we connect clinical work to broader environmental and public health efforts.
A Call to Action
Climate change is not a distant threat—it is a present-day force shaping the future of infectious disease. As temperatures rise and weather patterns shift, we are entering a new era of public health risk that requires a coordinated, science-based, and compassionate response.
We cannot separate environmental health from human health. Every step we take to address climate change—whether through policy, education, or clinical care—is also a step toward preventing the next outbreak.
For physicians, public health leaders, and community members alike, this is a call to action. Our warming world is challenging us to think bigger, act faster, and work together to protect the health of all.