Azerbaijani physician: Severe climate change causes spread of infectious diseases

As reflected in the recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), severe climate change is causing widespread infectious diseases, said Tayyar Eyvazov, a specialist at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Health infectious disease physician, Report informs, citing the ministry.

According to Eyvazov, the increase in average monthly temperature leads to an increase in bacterial dysentery, campylobacteriosis, salmonellosis, and other gastrointestinal diseases:

"The hot season causes ticks to become active and increases the number of diseases they transmit. Drought helps spread meningitis and several other infections. Climate change leads to mass migration and urban growth. This, in turn, can result in the spread of epidemics."

The infectious disease specialist noted that increased rainfall also plays a role in the spread of contagious diseases:

"This is mostly related to changes in water resource balance due to warming. Abnormal heavy rains cause contamination of drinking water sources. As a result, there may be an increase in waterborne intestinal infections, such as viral hepatitis A and E, escherichiosis, and other viral and bacterial infectious diseases. Changes in rainfall, drinking water availability, and quality related to climate change can affect the frequency of water-related diseases."

Eyvazov emphasized that access to safe water remains an extremely important issue for ensuring public health, as infectious agents are still found in drinking water.