Dengue fever has been on the rise globally, with cases skyrocketing in recent years. This viral illness, spread through mosquito bites, can cause high fever, body aches, and in severe cases, hemorrhagic fever and death. As climate change creates warmer and wetter conditions, dengue is spreading to new locations beyond its traditional tropical range. In fact, cases of dengue have doubled globally between 2023-24 and have even reached several U.S. states.
Researchers from Stanford University, along with international collaborators, conducted a study to understand the transmission of dengue, Zika, and chikungunya in children under the age of 5 in Fiji and Indonesia. Their findings, published in BMC Infectious Diseases, revealed that children living in households with regular garbage removal had a significantly lower risk of contracting dengue compared to those living in homes with trash around them.
Dr. Joelle Rosser, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor at Stanford, emphasized the importance of proper trash disposal in reducing dengue risk. Trash can serve as breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that spread dengue, and by managing waste properly, communities can decrease the risk of mosquito-borne diseases.
The study also highlighted the burden of dengue on young children in underserved urban settlements. Shockingly, by the age of 4 to 5, a high percentage of children in Fiji and Indonesia had already been infected with dengue, putting them at risk for severe second infections at a young age. This underscores the need for inclusive policies to protect vulnerable populations from mosquito-borne diseases.
Interestingly, the researchers found that settlements experiencing frequent flooding had lower dengue rates, possibly due to floodwaters flushing out mosquito breeding sites. However, inadequate trash collection in flood-prone areas could lead to increased mosquito breeding and dengue transmission.
The study’s findings suggest that environmental interventions, such as proper trash management and flood mitigation, are crucial for controlling dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases. The researchers are part of the RISE project, which aims to upgrade water infrastructures in communities to make them more resilient to climate change impacts. By minimizing trash, improving rainwater collection, and establishing natural flood buffers, communities can reduce mosquito breeding grounds and enhance their resilience to climate-related health risks.
Dr. Rosser and her colleagues will continue to track young children in these communities to assess the impact of environmental interventions on infection rates. The hope is that these findings will inform local government actions to improve trash collection systems and mitigate flood risks, ultimately reducing the health impacts of climate change.
In conclusion, proper waste management is a simple yet effective way to reduce the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. By addressing environmental factors that contribute to disease transmission, communities can protect vulnerable populations and build resilience against the health impacts of climate change.
