Climate change linked to surge in infectious diseases, experts warn

Climate change is increasingly driving the spread of infectious diseases in Bangladesh, from dengue and malaria to cholera and diarrhoeal illnesses, prompting urgent calls for stronger coordination between ministries and development partners.

At a stakeholder consultation on mainstreaming climate change and health in national policy—held at the BRAC Centre Auditorium and co-led by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) and BRAC Health Programme—officials highlighted the growing public health risks. Between January and September 2025 alone, 602 dengue prevention campaigns were conducted under the Climate Change and Health Project across the country.

Chairing the event, BRAC Chairperson Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman warned that climate impacts health through multiple pathways and interventions must consider diverse realities, citing examples of water reservoirs in salinity-prone areas that inadvertently became mosquito breeding grounds.

Speakers including Dr Md Akramul Islam, Senior Director at BRAC, and Md Momenul Islam of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, stressed that local authorities, early warning systems and timely action are vital to climate-health resilience.

Development partners, including The Global Fund, underscored the need for better data governance and resource mobilisation. A roundtable with senior government officials from the ministries of health, environment, disaster management and planning reinforced the urgency of integrating climate change into national strategies.

Launched in January 2025, the Climate Change and Health Project covers 28 climate-vulnerable districts and six city corporations, with 2,287 health workers already trained to strengthen local capacity for climate-resilient disease prevention.