Main Article Content
Abstract
Climate change not only contributes to drought, irregular precipitation, and floods, but also plays a significant role in the emergence and intensification of various infectious diseases. The primary driver of climate change is the emission of greenhouse gases, which leads to various climatic hazards. Consequently, wild animals, including reptiles, insects, and birds, which serve as reservoirs or vectors of infectious agents, are forced to migrate from their natural habitats toward urban areas, increasing their contact with human populations. This study is a literature-based review aimed at clarifying the relationship between climate change and infectious diseases. Our study highlights that rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, drought, and deforestation are key factors that contribute to the increased incidence and severity of infectious diseases. Preventive measures against climate-related risks, strengthening public health surveillance, and conducting further research in this field are therefore essential.
Keywords
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2026 Reserved for Kabul University

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
References
- Al-Tayib, O. A. (2019). An overview of the most significant zoonotic viral pathogens transmitted from animal to human in Saudi Arabia. Pathogens, 8(1), Article 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8010025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8010025
- Altizer, S., Ostfeld, R. S., Johnson, P. T. J., Kutz, S., & Harvell, C. D. (2013). Climate change and infectious diseases: From evidence to a predictive framework. Science, 341(6145), 514–519. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1239401 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1239401
- Coates, S. J., Enbiale, W., Davis, M. D. P., & Andersen, L. K. (2020). The effects of climate change on human health in Africa, a dermatologic perspective: A report from the International Society of Dermatology Climate Change Committee. International Journal of Dermatology, 59(3), 265–278. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14759 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14759
- Choi, Y. K. (2021). Emerging and re-emerging fatal viral diseases. Experimental & Molecular Medicine, 53(5), 711–712. https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-021-00608-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-021-00608-9
- El-Sayed, A., & Kamel, M. (2020). Climatic changes and their role in emergence and re-emergence of diseases. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(18), 22336–22352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08896-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08896-w
- Essar, M. Y., Siddiqui, A., & Head, M. G. (2023). Infectious diseases in Afghanistan: Strategies for health system improvement. Health Science Reports, 6(12), e1775. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1775 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1775
- Frenk, J., Gómez-Dantés, O., & Knaul, F. M. (2011). Globalization and infectious diseases. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 25(3), 593–599.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2011.05.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2011.05.003
- Gale, P., Drew, T., Phipps, L. P., David, G., & Wooldridge, M. (2009). The effect of climate change on the occurrence and prevalence of livestock diseases in Great Britain: A review. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 106(5), 1409–1423. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04036. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04036.x
- Greer, A., Ng, V., & Fisman, D. (2008). Climate change and infectious diseases in North America: The road ahead. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 178(6), 715–722. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.081325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.081325
- Haines, A., & Patz, J. A. (2004). Health effects of climate change. JAMA, 291(1), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.1.99 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.1.99
- Hellberg, R. S., & Chu, E. (2016). Effects of climate change on the persistence and dispersal of foodborne bacterial pathogens in the outdoor environment: A review. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 42(4), 548–572. https://doi.org/10.3109/1040841X.2014.972335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/1040841X.2014.972335
- Helldén, D., Andersson, C., Nilsson, M., Ebi, K. L., Friberg, P., & Alfvén, T. (2021). Climate change and child health: A scoping review and an expanded conceptual framework. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(3), e164–e175. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30274-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30274-6
- Hunter, P. R. (2003). Climate change and waterborne and vector-borne disease. Journalof Applied Microbiology, 94(Suppl. 1), 37S–46S. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.94.s1.5.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.94.s1.5.x
- Hui, E. K. W. (2006). Reasons for the increase in emerging and re-emerging viral infectious diseases. Microbes and Infection, 8(3), 905–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2005.06.032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2005.06.032
- Jaijyan, D. K., Liu, J., Hai, R., & Zhu, H. (2018). Emerging and reemerging human viral diseases. Annals of Microbiology Research, 2(1), 31–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36959/958/567
- Johnson, C. K., Hitchens, P. L., Evans, T. S., Goldstein, T., Thomas, K., Clements, A., & Mazet, J. A. K. (2015). Spillover and pandemic properties of zoonotic viruses with high host plasticity. Scientific Reports, 5, Article 14830. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14830 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14830
- Jones, K. E., Patel, N. G., Levy, M. A., Storeygard, A., Balk, D., Gittleman, J. L., & Daszak, P. (2008). Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature, 451(7181), 990–993. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06536 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06536
- Kanki, P. J. (2012). Infectious diseases, introduction. In Infectious Diseases: Selected Entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology (pp. 1–6). Springer New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5719-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5719-0_1
- Kessel, D. G. (2000). Global warming—facts, assessment, countermeasures. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 26(1-4), 157-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(00)00030-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(00)00030-9
- Kontra, J. M. (2017). Zombie infections and other infectious disease complications of global warming. Journal of Lancaster General Hospital, 12(1), 12–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-001-0119-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-001-0119-6
- LaDeau, S. L., Calder, C. A., Doran, P. J., & Marra, P. P. (2011). West Nile virus impacts in American crow populations are associated with human land use and climate. Ecological Research, 26, 909-916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-010-0725-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-010-0725-z
- Lancien, J., Muguwa, J., Lannes, C., & Bouvier, J. B. (1990). Tsetse and human trypanosomiasis challenge in south eastern Uganda. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 11(3), 411-416. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400012832 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400012832
- Metcalf, C. J. E., & Lessler, J. (2017). Opportunities and challenges in modeling emerging infectious diseases. Science, 357(6347), 149-152. 10.1126/science.aam8335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam8335
- Mora, C., McKenzie, T., Gaw, I. M., Dean, J. M., von Hammerstein, H., Knudson, T. A., ... & Franklin, E. C. (2022). Over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change. Nature climate change, 12(9), 869-875. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01426-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01426-1
- Mora, C., Spirandelli, D., Franklin, E. C., Lynham, J., Kantar, M. B., Miles, W., … & Hunter, C. L. (2018). Broad threat to humanity from cumulative climate hazards intensified by greenhouse gas emissions. Nature Climate Change, 8(12), 1062–1071. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0315-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0315-6
- Nava, A., Shimabukuro, J. S., Chmura, A. A., & Luz, S. L. B. (2017). The impact of global environmental changes on infectious disease emergence with a focus on risks for Brazil. ILAR Journal, 58(3), 393–400. https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar/ilx034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar/ilx034
- Nichols, G., Lake, I., & Heaviside, C. (2018). Climate change and water-related infectious diseases. Atmosphere, 9(10), 385. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9100385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9100385
- Patz, J. A., Campbell-Lendrum, D., Holloway, T., & Foley, J. A. (2005). Impact of regional climate change on human health. Nature, 438(7066), 310–317. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04188 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04188
- Rahman, M. T., Sobur, M. A., Islam, M. S., Ievy, S., Hossain, M. J., El Zowalaty, M. E., & Ashour, H. M. (2020). Zoonotic diseases: Etiology, impact, and control. Microorganisms, 8(9), 1405. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091405
- Semenza, J. C., Herbst, S., Rechenburg, A., Suk, J. E., Höser, C., Schreiber, C., & Kistemann, T. (2012). Climate change impact assessment of food- and waterborne diseases. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 42(8), 857–890. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2010.534706 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2010.534706
- Solomon, S., Qin, D., Manning, M., Chen, Z., Marquis, M., Averyt, K., & Miller, H. (2007). IPCC fourth assessment report (AR4). Climate change, 374. https://archive.ipcc.ch/report/ar4/wg1/
- Tabachnick, W. J. (2016). Climate change and the arboviruses: Lessons from the evolution of the dengue and yellow fever viruses. Annual Review of Virology, 3(1), 125–145. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-110615-035630 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-110615-035630
- Rahman, M. T., Sobur, M. A., Islam, M. S., Ievy, S., Hossain, M. J., El Zowalaty, M. E., & Ashour, H. M. (2020). Zoonotic diseases: Etiology, impact, and control. Microorganisms, 8(9), Article 1405. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091405 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091405
- Usmani, A., Baseer, A. Q., Rahimi, B. A., Jahid, A., Niazi, P., Monib, A. W., & Lali, W. M. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: What is the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in Kandahar, Afghanistan? African Journal of MicrobiologyResearch, 14(9), 465–470. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJMR2020.9369 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJMR2020.9369
- Vezzulli, L., Colwell, R. R., & Pruzzo, C. (2013). Ocean warming and spread of pathogenic vibrios in the aquatic environment. Microbial Ecology, 65(4), 817–825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-012-0163-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-012-0163-2
- Vos, T., Lim, S. S., Abbafati, C., Abbas, K. M., et al. (2020). Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 396(10258), 1204–1222. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9
References
Al-Tayib, O. A. (2019). An overview of the most significant zoonotic viral pathogens transmitted from animal to human in Saudi Arabia. Pathogens, 8(1), Article 25. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8010025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8010025
Altizer, S., Ostfeld, R. S., Johnson, P. T. J., Kutz, S., & Harvell, C. D. (2013). Climate change and infectious diseases: From evidence to a predictive framework. Science, 341(6145), 514–519. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1239401 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1239401
Coates, S. J., Enbiale, W., Davis, M. D. P., & Andersen, L. K. (2020). The effects of climate change on human health in Africa, a dermatologic perspective: A report from the International Society of Dermatology Climate Change Committee. International Journal of Dermatology, 59(3), 265–278. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14759 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijd.14759
Choi, Y. K. (2021). Emerging and re-emerging fatal viral diseases. Experimental & Molecular Medicine, 53(5), 711–712. https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-021-00608-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s12276-021-00608-9
El-Sayed, A., & Kamel, M. (2020). Climatic changes and their role in emergence and re-emergence of diseases. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(18), 22336–22352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08896-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08896-w
Essar, M. Y., Siddiqui, A., & Head, M. G. (2023). Infectious diseases in Afghanistan: Strategies for health system improvement. Health Science Reports, 6(12), e1775. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1775 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1775
Frenk, J., Gómez-Dantés, O., & Knaul, F. M. (2011). Globalization and infectious diseases. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America, 25(3), 593–599.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2011.05.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2011.05.003
Gale, P., Drew, T., Phipps, L. P., David, G., & Wooldridge, M. (2009). The effect of climate change on the occurrence and prevalence of livestock diseases in Great Britain: A review. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 106(5), 1409–1423. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04036. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04036.x
Greer, A., Ng, V., & Fisman, D. (2008). Climate change and infectious diseases in North America: The road ahead. CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 178(6), 715–722. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.081325 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.081325
Haines, A., & Patz, J. A. (2004). Health effects of climate change. JAMA, 291(1), 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.1.99 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.1.99
Hellberg, R. S., & Chu, E. (2016). Effects of climate change on the persistence and dispersal of foodborne bacterial pathogens in the outdoor environment: A review. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 42(4), 548–572. https://doi.org/10.3109/1040841X.2014.972335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/1040841X.2014.972335
Helldén, D., Andersson, C., Nilsson, M., Ebi, K. L., Friberg, P., & Alfvén, T. (2021). Climate change and child health: A scoping review and an expanded conceptual framework. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(3), e164–e175. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30274-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(20)30274-6
Hunter, P. R. (2003). Climate change and waterborne and vector-borne disease. Journalof Applied Microbiology, 94(Suppl. 1), 37S–46S. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.94.s1.5.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.94.s1.5.x
Hui, E. K. W. (2006). Reasons for the increase in emerging and re-emerging viral infectious diseases. Microbes and Infection, 8(3), 905–916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2005.06.032 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micinf.2005.06.032
Jaijyan, D. K., Liu, J., Hai, R., & Zhu, H. (2018). Emerging and reemerging human viral diseases. Annals of Microbiology Research, 2(1), 31–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.36959/958/567
Johnson, C. K., Hitchens, P. L., Evans, T. S., Goldstein, T., Thomas, K., Clements, A., & Mazet, J. A. K. (2015). Spillover and pandemic properties of zoonotic viruses with high host plasticity. Scientific Reports, 5, Article 14830. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14830 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep14830
Jones, K. E., Patel, N. G., Levy, M. A., Storeygard, A., Balk, D., Gittleman, J. L., & Daszak, P. (2008). Global trends in emerging infectious diseases. Nature, 451(7181), 990–993. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06536 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06536
Kanki, P. J. (2012). Infectious diseases, introduction. In Infectious Diseases: Selected Entries from the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology (pp. 1–6). Springer New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5719-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5719-0_1
Kessel, D. G. (2000). Global warming—facts, assessment, countermeasures. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 26(1-4), 157-168. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(00)00030-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0920-4105(00)00030-9
Kontra, J. M. (2017). Zombie infections and other infectious disease complications of global warming. Journal of Lancaster General Hospital, 12(1), 12–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-001-0119-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-001-0119-6
LaDeau, S. L., Calder, C. A., Doran, P. J., & Marra, P. P. (2011). West Nile virus impacts in American crow populations are associated with human land use and climate. Ecological Research, 26, 909-916. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-010-0725-z DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-010-0725-z
Lancien, J., Muguwa, J., Lannes, C., & Bouvier, J. B. (1990). Tsetse and human trypanosomiasis challenge in south eastern Uganda. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 11(3), 411-416. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400012832 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400012832
Metcalf, C. J. E., & Lessler, J. (2017). Opportunities and challenges in modeling emerging infectious diseases. Science, 357(6347), 149-152. 10.1126/science.aam8335 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aam8335
Mora, C., McKenzie, T., Gaw, I. M., Dean, J. M., von Hammerstein, H., Knudson, T. A., ... & Franklin, E. C. (2022). Over half of known human pathogenic diseases can be aggravated by climate change. Nature climate change, 12(9), 869-875. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01426-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01426-1
Mora, C., Spirandelli, D., Franklin, E. C., Lynham, J., Kantar, M. B., Miles, W., … & Hunter, C. L. (2018). Broad threat to humanity from cumulative climate hazards intensified by greenhouse gas emissions. Nature Climate Change, 8(12), 1062–1071. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0315-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-018-0315-6
Nava, A., Shimabukuro, J. S., Chmura, A. A., & Luz, S. L. B. (2017). The impact of global environmental changes on infectious disease emergence with a focus on risks for Brazil. ILAR Journal, 58(3), 393–400. https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar/ilx034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ilar/ilx034
Nichols, G., Lake, I., & Heaviside, C. (2018). Climate change and water-related infectious diseases. Atmosphere, 9(10), 385. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9100385 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos9100385
Patz, J. A., Campbell-Lendrum, D., Holloway, T., & Foley, J. A. (2005). Impact of regional climate change on human health. Nature, 438(7066), 310–317. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04188 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04188
Rahman, M. T., Sobur, M. A., Islam, M. S., Ievy, S., Hossain, M. J., El Zowalaty, M. E., & Ashour, H. M. (2020). Zoonotic diseases: Etiology, impact, and control. Microorganisms, 8(9), 1405. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091405
Semenza, J. C., Herbst, S., Rechenburg, A., Suk, J. E., Höser, C., Schreiber, C., & Kistemann, T. (2012). Climate change impact assessment of food- and waterborne diseases. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 42(8), 857–890. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2010.534706 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2010.534706
Solomon, S., Qin, D., Manning, M., Chen, Z., Marquis, M., Averyt, K., & Miller, H. (2007). IPCC fourth assessment report (AR4). Climate change, 374. https://archive.ipcc.ch/report/ar4/wg1/
Tabachnick, W. J. (2016). Climate change and the arboviruses: Lessons from the evolution of the dengue and yellow fever viruses. Annual Review of Virology, 3(1), 125–145. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-110615-035630 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-virology-110615-035630
Rahman, M. T., Sobur, M. A., Islam, M. S., Ievy, S., Hossain, M. J., El Zowalaty, M. E., & Ashour, H. M. (2020). Zoonotic diseases: Etiology, impact, and control. Microorganisms, 8(9), Article 1405. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091405 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091405
Usmani, A., Baseer, A. Q., Rahimi, B. A., Jahid, A., Niazi, P., Monib, A. W., & Lali, W. M. (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: What is the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice in Kandahar, Afghanistan? African Journal of MicrobiologyResearch, 14(9), 465–470. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJMR2020.9369 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5897/AJMR2020.9369
Vezzulli, L., Colwell, R. R., & Pruzzo, C. (2013). Ocean warming and spread of pathogenic vibrios in the aquatic environment. Microbial Ecology, 65(4), 817–825. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-012-0163-2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-012-0163-2
Vos, T., Lim, S. S., Abbafati, C., Abbas, K. M., et al. (2020). Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet, 396(10258), 1204–1222. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9