Insect-borne diseases, once confined to specific regions, are now spreading due to the ongoing warming of our planet.
An example of this is scrub typhus, which has recently been detected in the mountainous nation of Bhutan. Scrub typhus is transmitted through the bite of larval mites (chiggers) of the Trombiculidae family.
Symptoms of this zoonotic illness include fever, chills, headaches, body aches, muscle pain, and mental changes ranging from confusion to coma, as reported by the CDC. Historically, scrub typhus has been restricted to the "tsutsugamushi triangle" in the Asia-Pacific region, characterized by high humidity and scrub vegetation. However, the disease's geographic range is expanding, with over 1 billion people estimated to be at risk according to a 2018 study.
Scrub typhus is just one of many vector-borne diseases that are on the rise, driven by global warming. Meteorological factors, which play a crucial role in the proliferation of chiggers, are being affected by climate change, leading to an increase in disease outbreaks. Tandin Zangpo, a medical epidemiologist, emphasizes the need for a One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to combat such outbreaks.
To address these challenges, it is essential to transition from polluting energy sources like gas and oil to clean, renewable alternatives such as wind and solar power. This shift can help reduce our planet's overheating and mitigate the spread of diseases like scrub typhus.