Climate Change To Cause Dengue Outbreaks In Non-vulnerable High-altitude Areas: Study
Faizan Hashmi Published November 22, 2022 | 02:50 PM
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2022 ) :Pakistan after receiving massive manifestations of spiking up global warming, the environmental degradation and shift in monsoon weather pattern and increased temperatures would face spread of dengue outbreaks in non-vulnerable high-altitude areas.
A study carried out by the scientists and experts from the Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC), Health Services academy (HSA) and National Institute of Health (NIH) titled "Modelling the impact of climate change on dengue outbreaks and future spatiotemporal shift in Pakistan" discussed significant impacts of climate change on the intensity and spread of dengue outbreaks. The research got published in a leading environmental and health journal Environmental Geochemistry and Health.
The much-needed research underlined a mix of outcomes highlighting rise and decline in the outbreak scenarios of dengue disease.
The study's aim was to assess the number of dengue transmission suitable days (DTSD) in Pakistan for the baseline (1976�2005) and future (2006�2035, 2041�2070, and 2071�2099) periods under Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios.
"Our findings also indicate that DTSD would spread across Pakistan, particularly in areas where we have never seen dengue infections previously. The good news is that the DTSD in current hotspot cities is projected to decrease in the future due to climate change." The research while indicating disease rise during the baseline period (1976-2005), identified the top ten hotspot cities with a higher frequency of DTSD namely Karachi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Jhelum, Lahore, Islamabad, Balakot, Peshawar, Kohat, and Faisalabad.
The rising temperatures in the North though rang the alarm bells for the researchers as due to climate change there was an elevation-dependent shift in DTSD to high-altitude cities belonging to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also including the Federal Capital.
It noted that for instance in the 2020s, Kotli, Muzaffarabad, and Drosh; in the 2050s, Garhi Dopatta, Quetta, and Zhob; and in the 2080s, Chitral and Bunji. "Karachi, Islamabad, and Balakot will remain highly vulnerable to dengue outbreaks for all the future periods of the twenty-first century," the study cautioned.
The study had further revealed potential spatiotemporal shift and future hotspots of DTSD owing to climate change.
The results show a higher DTSD during the monsoon season in the baseline in the study area except for Sindh and South Punjab.
The study outcomes show that in the future periods, a temporal shift (extension) towards pre- and post-monsoon season was predicted. However, there was a temporal shift in the region during the post- and pre-monsoon season, which provides suitable breeding conditions for dengue mosquitos due to freshwater; therefore, local authorities needed to take adaption and mitigation actions.
/395
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Nazish Jahangir denies viral screenshots, calls them fake
Govt likely to hike electricity price once again
Bismah Maroof announces immediate retirement from international cricket
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
Selection committee dissolved over Pakistan women cricket team's poor performanc ..
Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz in police uniform at Chung police center
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 25 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 25 April 2024
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
More Stories From Pakistan
-
Four persons injured in car rollover accident
23 minutes ago -
Provincial Ombudsman Secretariat is determined to address public complaints
33 minutes ago -
277 training sessions held for livestock farmers
43 minutes ago -
24 criminals held
43 minutes ago -
Ombudsman’s Dera office dispose of 207 complaints at South Waziristan
53 minutes ago -
Various food points fined over violations:
54 minutes ago
-
PM for political commitment, adequate investment to achive goal of malaria-free world
1 hour ago -
Malala expresses unwavering support for Gaza people
1 hour ago -
President stresses joint efforts to control Malaria
1 hour ago -
Karachi Police arrest four suspects in crackdown on street crime
1 hour ago -
IRSA releases 163,300 cusecs water
1 hour ago -
Global tributes to kashmiri icon Amanullah Khan on 8th death anniversary
2 hours ago