Infectious Diseases and Climate, Africa to Strengthen Health Security

Discussions highlighted the importance of securing sustainable health financing, adopting new technologies and developing community-based surveillance systems to improve health security.

Attendees, among them representatives of heads of states and  health experts, also examined strategies to mitigate the impact of climate change on public health, especially vector-borne diseases and extreme weather events affecting vulnerable communities.

In the past decade, African countries have experienced a rise in outbreaks of infectious diseases. This increase is driven by factors such as heightened human-animal interaction, fragile healthcare systems, and climate changes that facilitate the spread of pathogens. The absence of strong surveillance systems and limited access to rapid diagnostics often results in delayed detection of outbreaks, which allows diseases to spread more rapidly, sometimes across borders. Climate change is also altering habitats and enhancing the mobility of disease vectors.

A study released in January 2025 by the journal Infectious Disease and Epidemiology, titled "Climate Change and Contagion: The Emerging Threat of Zoonotic Diseases in Africa," suggests that changes in temperature, rainfall patterns, and humidity are creating conditions conducive to the spread of viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, and mpox. It also notes that warmer temperatures could extend the range of vector-borne diseases, while floods and droughts, by displacing populations, are increasing the likelihood of outbreaks in new areas.

Cross-border movements within African nations increase the risk of infectious disease transmission by accelerating the spread of diseases across borders, making containment efforts more challenging. Travelers between regions can be potential carriers of viruses, transforming localized outbreaks into regional health crises in areas lacking adequate health monitoring systems.

The research also highlighted gaps in diagnostic capabilities that hinder the early detection of viruses such as Ebola, Marburg, and mpox in many African nations. These deficiencies weaken healthcare systems' ability to implement early detection due to inadequate infrastructure, insufficient training, and limited access to advanced diagnostic tools.

During the conference in Mombasa, leaders and health experts highlighted the critical need for improved healthcare financing, citing that resource-strained health systems in African nations were hindering their ability to respond to emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

Kenyan President William Ruto emphasized the importance of regional cooperation to improve preparedness for transboundary health threats. He highlighted the role of innovative health financing, biosecurity measures, and technologies such as early-warning systems in strengthening Africa's public health infrastructure.

The African healthcare system is facing mounting pressure, as global economic losses from climate change are projected to reach up to $3.1 trillion annually. This situation hampers the continent's ability to finance essential health initiatives. Although global climate finance has reached $1.3 trillion, African countries struggle to access these funds due to gaps in technical capacity and institutional barriers.

As invasive vectors like Anopheles stephensi expand due to climate change, Africa must transition from reactive to preventive healthcare to safeguard its populations. This shift is essential, as new outbreaks are occurring in previously unaffected areas, placing additional strain on already fragile health infrastructures. The East Africa Regional Global Health Security Summit highlighted the urgent need for early warning systems and community-based surveillance, two vital tools for containing disease outbreaks before they escalate.

Technical and institutional limitations hinder countries from obtaining the resources necessary to strengthen healthcare infrastructure. Without prompt action to enhance diagnostics, secure funding, and foster regional cooperation, Africa's capacity to address the increasing threats of climate-induced diseases will remain severely compromised.