氣候變遷與傳染病

Climate Change and Infectious Disease

氣候變遷對全球傳染病的傳播與分布產生了深遠影響，隨著全球暖化加劇，極端氣候事件的頻率與強度不斷上升，不僅改變了病原體、病媒及宿主的生態環境，也使得傳染病的流行範圍與季節性產生顯著變化。例如，登革熱與茲卡病毒的病媒蚊因氣候變遷，逐漸向高緯度及高海拔地區擴散；人畜共通傳染病也因宿主的遷徙與數量變動而導致傳播風險增加。此外，極端降雨與洪水事件的頻繁發生，加劇了水源污染問題，進一步提升了水媒傳染病在公共衛生領域的挑戰。面對氣候變遷引發的嚴峻挑戰，各國應強化跨領域合作，整合氣候科學、流行病學數據與公共衛生等領域的專業知識。透過建構完善的監測系統，結合氣候與流行病學數據，並運用衛星遙感、地理資訊系統等技術，可即時掌握環境變化與疫情動態，以便及早預警並能快速應對。同時，醫療體系應加強緊急應變機制，並善用基因編輯、mRNA疫苗等先進生物技術，以因應新興傳染病的威脅。氣候變遷加劇了傳染病的威脅，必須通過跨學科合作和新興科技的結合，才能有效增強公共衛生系統的韌性，並減少對社會和經濟的影響，本篇文章將首先探討氣候變遷對傳染病所造成的機轉與研究證據，接著分別以蟲媒傳染病、人畜共通傳染病以及水媒傳染病為例進行論述，並討論對公共衛生之影響與未來發展趨勢。

Climate change is profoundly reshaping the global landscape of infectious diseases and is altering both their distribution and transmission patterns. As global temperatures rise and extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, floods, and storms, increase in frequency and intensity, the ecological balance among pathogens, vectors, and hosts is progressively disrupted. One of the clearest examples is seen in mosquito-borne illnesses, such as dengue fever and Zika virus, whose primary vectors have begun expanding into higher latitudes and altitudes that were once considered unsuitable for their survival. This geographical shift highlights how warming temperatures and changing rainfall patterns can extend breeding seasons, thereby facilitating the proliferation of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Zoonotic diseases provide another stark illustration of the impact of climate change. Altered habitats and migratory routes for wildlife can allow pathogens to reach regions where they were previously unknown, often in areas with little local immunity or robust surveillance systems in place. As human encroachment on wildlife increases through urbanization and agricultural expansion, the interaction between humans and potential animal hosts intensifies, increasing the probability of new disease emergence. Moreover, shifts in precipitation extremes can lead to more frequent flooding, contaminating water supplies and accelerating the spread of waterborne pathogens, such as Vibrio species, Leptospira, and other bacteria and parasites. These microbial agents pose additional public health challenges, particularly in coastal and low-lying regions. Addressing these complex challenges requires coordinated cross-disciplinary efforts that merge climate science, epidemiological data, and public health expertise. A robust and responsive disease surveillance system is crucial. By integrating satellite-based remote sensing, geographic information systems, and real-time climate data, health authorities can detect early warning signs of an impending outbreak and respond proactively. For instance, identifying climatic patterns that favor mosquito breeding, such as a spike in rainfall followed by warm conditions, can help guide vector control efforts and vaccination campaigns toward high-risk areas before disease transmission intensifies. Therefore, healthcare systems must strengthen their capacity to manage climaterelated health emergencies. This includes reinforcing the clinical infrastructure, ensuring equitable distribution of emergency medical resources, and training personnel to respond effectively to surge events. On the technological front, advancements in genetic engineering-- including CRISPR-based strategies-- show promise for modifying vector populations to reduce their disease-carrying potential. Similarly, mRNA vaccine platforms have demonstrated remarkable versatility and rapid development timelines, as evidenced by recent successes in combating emerging pathogens. Ultimately, climate change exacerbates the threat of infectious diseases by reshaping ecosystems and altering interactions among humans, animals, and pathogens. Addressing this growing risk requires ongoing innovation in both epidemiological surveillance and biomedical research along with coordinated efforts among governments, scientists, healthcare providers, and local communities. By combining scientific insights with proactive health policies and cutting-edge biotechnology, societies can strengthen their resilience and minimize the social and economic impacts of climate-driven disease outbreaks.