Brett Sutton warns infectious disease spread will get worse due to climate change

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton has released a report warning the risk of infectious diseases will get worse due to climate change.

Extreme weather events will continue to spark dramatic changes in infectious diseases, a Victorian report linking the effects of climate change to public health has found.

The 2018 biennial chief health officer report on public health in Victoria, published this week, explained the “serious and growing impacts” of heatwaves, floods, drought and bush fires were having upon public health.

Victorian chief health officer professor Brett Sutton – who has been at the frontline of the state’s COVID-19 response – wrote the report and said only “serious action” on climate change would prevent future public health disasters.

The report forecast that “warmer and drier” climate in Victoria would have “severe impacts” on public health.

The biennial 2018 Chief Health Officer report on public health in Victoria is available here. It explains the serious and growing impacts climate change is having upon public health unless we take serious action. Many other important topics here as well. https://t.co/5gz0gS6twC

— Chief Health 🍩fficer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) November 29, 2020

Increased temperatures and risk of bushfires would impact poorly on air quality, while more frequent downpours and flooding would cause waterborne and vector-borne diseases to increase.

Drought impacts would harm water supplies, causing the dangerous blue-green algae, the report also warned.

“All of these impacts can pose serious risks to the mental and physical health of individuals and challenge the resilience of communities,” the report said.

The 2009 Victorian heatwave – the year of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires – resulted in 374 excess estimated deaths and a 12 per cent increase in public hospital emergency department presentations, compared to the five-year average.

While the 2014 Victorian heatwaves caused 167 more estimated deaths and a five-fold increase in heat-related hospital presentations.

The report warns increased temperatures and risk of bushfires will impact poorly on air quality.

The report also referenced a “10-fold increase” in the mosquito-borne disease Ross River virus, following the 2016-17 floods that caused a large increase in mosquito numbers across Victoria.

The Department of Health and Human Services documented 1974 cases of Ross River in humans between October 2016 and April 2017.

The number of cases was nearly 10 times higher than the historical average of 204 cases per year. It was the state’s largest Ross River virus outbreak since 1993.

The report also said Victoria was experiencing “significant impacts” on its water resources, referencing the blue-green algae bloom in the Murray River four years ago.

It lasted for 115 days and spanned more than 1,330 kilometres from the Hume Dam in the state’s east to Mildura in the west.

It affected 26 drinking water treatment sites, six Victorian water agencies and the drinking supply of 41 Victorian townships.

Blue-green algae poses a significant threat to public health.

The report also warned of growing infections which were resistant to antimicrobials – medicines that kill or attack germs such as viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi.

It cited a United Kingdom review which predicted that by 2050 there would be more than 10 million deaths every year around the world due to untreatable infections.

In the report Professor Sutton said severe weather would only continue to impact the spread of infectious diseases.

“Immunisation, food safety measures and keeping our drinking water safe are key public health activities that we can sometimes take for granted,” he wrote.

“Although often unseen, public health benefits all aspects of life, and we must work hard to ensure a robust and well-resourced public health system can move forward as the world continues to face significant challenges.”