GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – As El Niño gains strength and heightens climate-related health threats, global health organizations are emphasizing the importance of enhanced readiness. The World Meteorological Organization forecasts that the phenomenon will reach very strong levels before the conclusion of 2026. Major concerns include extreme heat, drought conditions, flooding, wildfire smoke, and deteriorating air quality. Altered rainfall patterns are also likely to strain food resources, water infrastructure, and public health systems in vulnerable communities.
Forecasts indicate an almost certain probability that El Niño will persist into February 2027, driven by unusually warm waters across the tropical Pacific supporting the ongoing event, with the most intense conditions anticipated toward the end of 2026. The phenomenon has the capacity to modify rainfall and temperature distributions across vast regions, potentially leading to drought in some areas while exacerbating flood risks in others. Additionally, periods of high temperatures may intensify during already hot seasonal intervals.
Celeste Saulo, secretary-general of WMO, has emphasized the necessity for closer collaboration between meteorological services and health authorities, underlining the importance of integrating climate data into public health planning and early warning systems. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable because surfaces like roads and buildings tend to absorb and retain heat, putting older adults, children, and outdoor laborers at increased risk during extended hot spells. Individuals with pre-existing health issues can also experience more severe impacts when high temperatures persist.
Wider Climate-Related Challenges for Healthcare Infrastructure
In September, the World Health Organization released a comprehensive global health assessment concerning El Niño, advocating for proactive measures, ongoing surveillance, and early interventions by national and regional health agencies. The report highlights risks associated with heatwaves, water security issues, infectious diseases, and nutritional deficits. It also stresses that health systems can leverage seasonal climate forecasts to recognize periods of heightened danger, while stressing the importance of monitoring vulnerable populations as rainfall and temperature patterns shift.
Warmer temperatures and changing rainfall dynamics create ideal conditions for several mosquito-borne illnesses, prompting health authorities to track diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika as primary concerns. Flooding and water disruptions further elevate the risk of cholera outbreaks in exposed communities. Drought conditions threaten crops, deplete water supplies, and worsen hunger, with over 150 million people already experiencing severe food insecurity, thereby increasing the strain on regions affected by climate shocks.
Heatwaves Amplify Disease Transmission and Food Security Issues
As El Niño approaches its peak in late 2026, regions such as Southern Africa, South America, and Australia are preparing for the warmer seasons, raising concerns about heatwaves, drought, wildfires, and deteriorating air quality. Elevated temperatures can aggravate cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, and metabolic health conditions, while also impacting mental health and reducing nighttime recovery, especially in poorly ventilated homes. Smoke from wildfires further complicates respiratory health, particularly for those with asthma or other lung conditions.
In response, climate and health agencies are expanding efforts to link weather forecasts directly with public health decision-making. WMO is collaborating with partners to enhance climate services for health officials and emergency planners, while WHO continues to focus on disease surveillance, preparedness, and rapid response initiatives as El Niño unfolds. Both organizations recognize early warning systems as critical tools for mitigating health risks, emphasizing the importance of utilizing verified climate data to enable timely interventions across affected regions.