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Waterborne diseases and climate change
Karen Levy1, Rebecca S Kann2, Elizabeth J Carlton3
1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. klevyx@uw.edu.
Nature Reviews. Microbiology
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Climate change exacerbates waterborne diseases through altered weather patterns, threatening public health. Understanding these impacts is crucial for developing effective interventions and protecting vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental science
- Public health
- Infectious disease epidemiology
Background:
- Waterborne diseases are a major global health concern, particularly for young children.
- Climate change poses a significant threat to progress in controlling waterborne diseases.
- Pathogen transmission via contaminated water remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of climate change-influenced meteorological conditions on waterborne pathogens.
- To explore how these impacts affect pathogen biology and transmission, focusing on the fecal-oral route.
- To discuss strategies for mitigating climate-related increases in waterborne diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on climate change and waterborne diseases.
- Analysis of meteorological factors (temperature, rainfall, drought, extreme weather) affecting pathogen transmission.
- Examination of methods for projecting future disease risks, incorporating social vulnerability and pathogen-specific data.
Main Results:
- Climate change, through altered temperature, rainfall, drought, and extreme weather, significantly affects waterborne pathogen biology and transmission.
- Impacts vary across different pathogens, necessitating pathogen-specific risk assessments.
- Future disease burden projections require integrating climate data with social vulnerability and pathogen characteristics.
Conclusions:
- Understanding climate change impacts on waterborne diseases is essential for public health.
- Strategies like vaccination, improved water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and enhanced surveillance are key to blunting disease increases.
- Evidence-based approaches are needed to protect vulnerable populations and promote health in a changing global environment.
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