22 January 2016: Severe drought, flooding, heavy rains and temperature rises are all known El Niño effects that can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition, disease outbreaks, water shortages and disruption of health services, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report indicates that the current 2015-2016 El Niño is predicted to be the worst in recent years and comparable to the 1997-1998 El Niño, which had major health consequences. WHO warns that the health implications of the 2015-2016 El Niño are expected to be more intense in developing countries, which have less capacity to reduce such impacts.
The report, titled ‘Global Report on El Niño and Health,’ estimates that 60 million people will be impacted by El Niño, with requests for financial support already made by seven high-risk countries (Ethiopia, Lesotho, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda) topping US$76 million. Richard Brennan, Director WHO Emergency Risk Management and Humanitarian Response Department, stated that to prevent unnecessary deaths and illnesses, governments must invest in strengthening their preparedness and response efforts.
The report describes actions that can be taken to prevent and reduce the health effects of El Niño, including: disease surveillance; controlling the disease transmission, such as through vaccinations; mobilizing communities to promote health and hygiene practices; improving water and sanitation services; strengthening logistics and medical supply chains; providing emergency medical care and access to health services; coordination of preparedness and response measures; and treatments for malnourished children.
While the adverse weather effects of El Niño are expected to subside by April 2016, the health impacts will last throughout the year. The recent cholera epidemic of than 12,000 reported cases in Tanzania is expected to spread to other countries. In the Horn of Africa, drought has been followed by heavy rains with a higher risk of vector borne-disease and outbreaks of other communicable diseases, including measles and cholera. Extreme drought and acute water shortages in South Western Pacific, Central America and Southern Africa will continue into the first half of 2016, leading to increased malnutrition and diarrheal diseases. In addition, wetter conditions in South America are expected to cause intense flooding in Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia with an increased incidence of vector-borne diseases, respiratory infections and damage to health facilities.
WHO has deployed health emergency and technical personnel to Ethiopia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Tanzania and several Pacific Islands. In collaboration with health sector partners, WHO has provided inputs to national government and UN interagency planning and coordination in, inter alia, Ecuador, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. WHO has also been working on issues related to information management and health risk assessments, and engagement with national meteorological agencies for information on rainfall observed and localized predictions.
A conference co-organized by WHO in November 2015 had underlined that El Niño contributes to 2015 being the warmest year in record. Participants had also noted that El Niño events take place in a continuously warming climate and that their impacts are exacerbated by climate change. [WHO Press Release] [Publication: Global Report on El Niño and Health] [IISD RS Story on El Niño Conference]