Since 2019, more than 40 countries or territories have reported at least one resurgence of infectious diseases such as measles or dengue fever, in particular due to a drop in vaccination and climate change.
- A new study highlights an increase in cases of at least 13 infectious diseases worldwide, including measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis, dengue fever and cholera.
- Current outbreaks can be attributed to three main factors: declining vaccination rates, the overall decline in population immunity during the pandemic years, and climate disruption.
- The latter has favored the spread of certain infectious diseases in new territories, such as cholera and dengue fever.
Measles, whooping cough, tuberculosis, dengue fever and cholera: all these infectious diseases have been transmitted more frequently since the Covid-19 pandemic. This is what emerges from a new study study conducted by the company Airfinity and the press agency Bloomberg Newsbased on data from sixty public health organizations and agencies.
Research teams have highlighted an increase in cases of at least thirteen infectious diseases across the world since 2019. “More than 40 countries or territories have reported at least one resurgence of infectious diseases – ten times or more compared to their pre-pandemic baseline”announces a communicated Press.
Resurgence of infectious diseases due to declining vaccination
“Our study reveals that the current epidemics can be attributed to three main factors. The first is declining vaccination rates.” Measles, polio, tuberculosis and whooping cough can indeed be prevented with a vaccine. But global vaccination coverage for measles, for example, has declined, with 20 countries in Europe falling below 90% in 2022, including the UK (87%). “which is currently experiencing a national epidemic.” Austria, for its part, knows “its worst measles outbreak ever recorded”and Denmark, Canada, Ireland and the Netherlands are on the wrong track.
“Unvaccinated children are most at risk from the resurgence of diseases such as measles, whooping cough and polio, which are more serious for infants and young children than for the general population, the researchers emphasize. Ensuring sufficient vaccination rates is crucial to prevent these vulnerable groups from becoming seriously ill.”
Second factor, the overall decline in population immunity during the pandemic years. Lockdowns and other “Restrictions on social interactions have prevented the circulation of pathogens such as influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Mycoplasma pneumoniae and invasive group A streptococcus (GAS).” With the result that diseases are on the rise “attributed largely to more sensitive populations.”
Nearly half of world’s population at risk of dengue infection
Finally, climate change has encouraged the spread of pathogens and certain infectious diseases to new territories. Starting with cholera, whose epidemic continues in Mayotte with 193 cases since March, and dengue fever, a tropical disease transmitted by the tiger mosquito, imported cases of which are increasing in France. Record in Argentina, where the number of dengue cases has increased by… 151, from 3,220 in 2019 to 488,035 today.
“As temperatures continue to rise, we could see the disease take hold in non-endemic regions, including southern Europe. […] Nearly half of the world’s population could now be at risk of dengue infection,” conclude the authors of the study, arguing for “an increase in surveillance and screening of infectious diseases.”