Climate Change and the Rising Risk of Epidemic Virus Transmission

Abstract

Climate change has increasingly altered global ecological systems, influencing the dynamics of infectious diseases. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and the expansion of suitable habitats for vectors create favorable conditions for viral transmission. This review examines the upward trend of epidemic viral spread in the context of climate change, with a focus on vector-borne and respiratory viruses. Drawing on recent epidemiological data and climate models, the study analyzes the correlation between environmental shifts and viral outbreaks.Our findings indicate that warming temperatures accelerate the geographic expansion of arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya, while altered rainfall patterns foster mosquito breeding cycles. Moreover, extreme weather events disrupt healthcare infrastructure and increase population displacement, facilitating respiratory virus transmission such as influenza and coronaviruses. The convergence of climate-driven ecological changes and global mobility amplifies the risk of cross-border viral epidemics. These findings underscore an urgent imperative: efforts to address climate change cannot be separated from strategies for infectious disease preparedness. Surveillance systems must be reinforced and designed to detect early signals of climate-sensitive outbreaks, while stronger intersectoral collaboration can bridge gaps between environmental science, epidemiology, and health policy. Integrating climate-informed frameworks into public health decision-making offers a pathway to reduce the growing burden of viral diseases shaped by environmental change.