Cambio Climático y Enfermedades Infecciosas Emergentes: Riesgos, Vectores y Adaptación Sanitaria

Climate change has become a critical determinant in the global epidemiological dynamics, directly influencing the incidence, distribution, and severity of infectious diseases. This phenomenon, driven by anthropogenic activities, alters weather patterns, disrupts ecosystems, and increases the emergence of zoonoses by intensifying contact between humans and animal reservoirs. Moreover, extreme events such as floods, droughts, and hurricanes degrade health infrastructure and create favorable conditions for the proliferation of vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and rodents. These environmental changes, combined with deforestation, unplanned urbanization, and population displacement, facilitate the reemergence and geographic expansion of transmissible diseases. This article comprehensively analyzes the scientific evidence linking climate change to diseases such as dengue, cholera, and respiratory infections, emphasizing the growing risks to public health. It underscores the urgent need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance systems, promote environmental mitigation strategies, and foster intersectoral policies that integrate health, climate, and biodiversity. We conclude that addressing climate change is not only an environmental priority but also an essential strategy to prevent future health crises in a context of increasing global vulnerability.