How climate change is fueling disease outbreaks

New Stanford-led research traces a direct line from extreme weather to a massive dengue outbreak in Peru. The findings serve as a warning – and the seed of a possible solution.

In brief
- Researchers traced Peru’s 2023 dengue outbreak to cyclone conditions, finding that 60% of cases stemmed from extreme rainfall and heat.

• Climate modeling showed that conditions fueling the epidemic are now nearly three times more likely than in pre-industrial times.

• Findings offer health officials quantifiable data to justify investments in mosquito control, vaccination, and urban flood resilience strategies.

The article: Extreme precipitation, exacerbated by anthropogenic climate change, drove Peru’s record-breaking 2023 dengue outbreak