Climate change increases risk of mosquito-borne diseases

As climate change alters temperatures and weather patterns around the world, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Zika has increased.

“Because of climate change, tumataas ang temperatura, humahaba ang dry spells natin and indirectly it leads to more breeding sites,” Dr. Althea de Guzman, director of Department of Health-Epidemiology Bureau, said in Amor Larosa’s report on “24 Oras” Friday.

(Because of climate change, the hotter temperature leads to longer dry spells which indirectly causes more breeding sites.)

“Ito naman ang nagiging dahilan ng pagtaas ng kaso ng ating tinatawag na vector or mosquito-borne diseases tulad ng dengue, even Zika,” De Guzman added.

(This results to more cases of vector or mosquito-borne diseases tulad ng dengue, even Zika.)

In February 2016, the World Health Organization declared Zika-related microcephaly as a public health emergency of international concern.

Microcephaly is a birth defect in which a baby's head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika virus infection during pregnancy is seen as one of the causes of the disease.

Data from the DOH Epidemiology Bureau showed there were 78 Zika cases in the Philippines since 2015. Of the figures, 31 were reported in the National Capital Region.

Meanwhile, the DOH reminded the public to keep their surroundings clean to reduce possible mosquito habitats.

For more details, watch the report.—Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA Integrated News