How El Nino, a ‘silent killer’, could impact health, nutrition and the economy; represents a “new risk, but not a game changer” according to experts

According to experts, the El Niño weather phenomenon is showing signs of intensifying, potentially leading to increased temperatures and extreme weather events in a year already characterized by its proliferation. The World Meteorological Organization recently confirmed the start of the first El Niño in several years, AFP reported.

According to experts, the El Niño weather phenomenon is showing signs of intensifying, potentially leading to increased temperatures and extreme weather events in a year already characterized by its proliferation. The World Meteorological Organization recently confirmed the start of the first El Niño in several years, AFP reported.

El Nino, a naturally occurring warming in Pacific Ocean temperatures, typically lasts nine to 12 months, with forecasts suggesting an intensification towards the end of the year. Scientists have suggested that the effects of El Niño combined with human-caused global warming could go beyond mere weather fluctuations.

El Nino, a naturally occurring warming in Pacific Ocean temperatures, typically lasts nine to 12 months, with forecasts suggesting an intensification towards the end of the year. Scientists have suggested that the effects of El Niño combined with human-caused global warming could go beyond mere weather fluctuations.

Diseases

The warming trend caused by El Niño could have significant health implications. Vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever have been observed to spread as temperatures rise. Experts warn that El Niño and ongoing global warming could exacerbate this trend.

Diseases

The warming trend caused by El Niño could have significant health implications. Vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever have been observed to spread as temperatures rise. Experts warn that El Niño and ongoing global warming could exacerbate this trend.

“We can see from previous El Niño events that there is a surge and outbreak of a variety of vector-borne and other infectious diseases in the tropics, in the area we know to be most affected by El Niño affected,” Madeleine Thomson, head of climate impact at the charity Wellcome Trust, told AFP on August 10.

“We can see from previous El Niño events that there is a surge and outbreak of a variety of vector-borne and other infectious diseases in the tropics, in the area we know to be most affected by El Niño affected,” Madeleine Thomson, head of climate impact at the charity Wellcome Trust, told AFP on August 10.

The increase in these diseases is due to the twin effects of El Niño: unusual rainfall expands breeding grounds for disease vectors such as mosquitoes, and increased temperatures accelerate the transmission of various infectious diseases. For example, an El Niño event in 1998 was associated with a major malaria outbreak in the Kenyan highlands.

The increase in these diseases is due to the twin effects of El Niño: unusual rainfall expands breeding grounds for disease vectors such as mosquitoes, and increased temperatures accelerate the transmission of various infectious diseases. For example, an El Niño event in 1998 was associated with a major malaria outbreak in the Kenyan highlands.

health concerns

While it’s difficult to accurately quantify El Nino’s role in extreme weather events like wildfires, heatwaves alone pose significant health risks. Gregory Wellenius, director of a climate and health center at Boston University, emphasized the threat posed by heatwaves. “It’s sometimes called the silent killer because you don’t necessarily see it as a threat,” Wellenius said. “But heat waves actually kill more people than any other type of severe weather event.”

health concerns

While it’s difficult to accurately quantify El Nino’s role in extreme weather events like wildfires, heatwaves alone pose significant health risks. Gregory Wellenius, director of a climate and health center at Boston University, emphasized the threat posed by heatwaves. “It’s sometimes called the silent killer because you don’t necessarily see it as a threat,” Wellenius said. “But heat waves actually kill more people than any other type of severe weather event.”

The toll of the heat waves was evident last summer, when an estimated 61,000 people lost their lives to heat-related problems in Europe, a period without El Niño influence. July 2023 was recently confirmed as the hottest month on history. Wellenius said: “Preparation is much more effective than emergency measures.”

The toll of the heat waves was evident last summer when an estimated 61,000 people lost their lives to heat-related problems in Europe, a period without El Niño influence. July 2023 was recently confirmed as the hottest month on history. Wellenius said: “Preparation is much more effective than emergency measures.”

Food security concerns

The impact of El Nino also extends to food security. “In an El Niño year, there are countries where the probability of a bad harvest increases, for example in South and Southeast Asia,” explained Walter Baethgen from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society.

Food security concerns

The impact of El Nino also extends to food security. “In an El Niño year, there are countries where the probability of a bad harvest increases, for example in South and Southeast Asia,” explained Walter Baethgen from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society.

India, the world’s largest rice exporter, restricted its rice exports last month due to crop damage from erratic monsoon rains. Such measures can have far-reaching implications, affecting countries that depend on these exports, such as Syria and Indonesia. These countries may face a “triple challenge” during El Niño as reduced harvests, disrupted trade and increased rice prices exacerbate overall food insecurity.

India, the world’s largest rice exporter, restricted its rice exports last month due to crop damage from erratic monsoon rains. Such measures can have far-reaching implications, affecting countries that depend on these exports, such as Syria and Indonesia. These countries may face a “triple challenge” during El Niño as reduced harvests, disrupted trade and increased rice prices exacerbate overall food insecurity.

Economic Implications

El Nino can disrupt trade routes, as evidenced by Panama Canal traffic restrictions due to lower rainfall, which is expected to result in a $200 million drop in profits. Such events illustrate the impact El Niño can have on the global economy.

Economic Implications

El Nino can disrupt trade routes, as evidenced by Panama Canal traffic restrictions due to lower rainfall, which is expected to result in a $200 million drop in profits. Such events illustrate the impact El Niño can have on the global economy.

A study published in Science in May estimated that past El Niños have resulted in over $4 trillion in economic costs. The combined effects of El Nino and ongoing global warming were projected to cause $84 trillion in economic losses in the 21st century.

A study published in Science in May estimated that past El Niños have resulted in over $4 trillion in economic costs. It is estimated that the combined effects of El Niño and continued global warming would cause US$84 trillion in economic losses in the 21st century.

However, Oxford Economics experts have called El Nino a “new risk, but not a game changer” and warned that while costs remain uncertain, better preparation is vital.

However, Oxford Economics experts have called El Nino a “new risk, but not a game changer” and warned that while costs remain uncertain, better preparation is vital.