Climate change and vector-borne disease prevention: A narrative review of contemporary one health public health challenges

Abstract Climate change represents a primary driver among multiple anthropogenic factors and constitutes one of the most significant threats to global public health, the health of domesticated animals and wildlife, and environmental integrity in the One Health concept in the 21 st century. Among its diverse impacts, vector-borne diseases (VBDs) including zoonoses have emerged and reemerged as particularly climate-sensitive health outcomes, reflecting the strong influence of climatic variables on vector ecology, pathogen transmission dynamics, and host–vector interactions. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and changes in humidity are fundamentally reshaping the ecology, abundance, and geographic distribution of disease vectors, including hematophagous arthropods such as mosquitoes, ticks, biting midges, blackflies, lice, fleas, and sandflies. This narrative review examines the intersection of climate change impacts and VBD prevention strategies, addressing contemporary challenges faced by public health systems worldwide. We analyze how climate variables affect vector biology, pathogen development, and transmission dynamics for major VBDs including malaria, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, Lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile virus, and leishmaniasis. The review synthesizes current evidence on climate-driven geographic range expansions, altered seasonality of transmission, and emerging outbreak patterns. We evaluate prevention and control strategies in the context of climate adaptation, including integrated vector management, novel biotechnologies such as Wolbachia -based approaches, climate-informed early warning systems, and vaccine development. Special attention is given to the Eastern Mediterranean region, where climate projections indicate increasing VBD suitability. The evidence demonstrates that climate change necessitates fundamental adaptations in public health surveillance, vector control programs, and health system preparedness. Effective responses require integration of climate data into disease forecasting, enhanced intersectoral collaboration through One Health approaches, and sustained investment in both traditional and innovative vector control technologies. This review provides preventive medicine practitioners in a One Health approach with an evidence-based framework for addressing climate-sensitive VBDs.