GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – As El Niño intensifies, global health organizations are emphasizing the importance of enhanced preparedness to mitigate climate-related health dangers. The World Meteorological Organization anticipates the phenomenon reaching very strong intensity levels before the conclusion of 2026. Key concerns include extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfire smoke, and deteriorating air quality. Variations in rainfall patterns may also place additional strain on food production, water infrastructure, and public health systems in susceptible regions.
Forecasts suggest a near certainty that El Niño will persist until February 2027. The ongoing event is supported by abnormally warm waters across the tropical Pacific, with the most intense conditions expected toward the end of 2026. Such El Niño episodes can significantly shift rainfall and temperature trends over extensive areas of the globe, leading to droughts in some zones and heightened flood risks elsewhere. During already warm seasonal periods, heat exposure levels are also likely to increase.
Celeste Saulo, secretary-general of WMO, has urged for increased coordination between meteorological services and health agencies. She stressed the importance of integrating climate data into public health strategies and early warning systems. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable since roads and buildings tend to absorb and retain heat. The risk is heightened for older adults, children, and outdoor workers during extended hot spells. Individuals with existing health issues may experience more severe effects when high temperatures persist.
Health Systems Confront Broader Climate-Driven Challenges
The World Health Organization published a comprehensive global health assessment on El Niño in September. Its recommendations focus on readiness, monitoring, and early intervention by national and regional health bodies. The report explores risks related to heat, water security, infectious diseases, and nutrition. Seasonal climate forecasts can aid health services in pinpointing high-risk periods. The document also underscores the importance of tracking vulnerable populations as rainfall and temperature patterns evolve.
Rising temperatures and altered rainfall regimes can create ideal conditions for multiple mosquito-borne illnesses. Monitoring efforts are centered on diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika. Additionally, flooding and disrupted water supplies may exacerbate cholera outbreaks in exposed communities. Drought conditions threaten crops, diminish water availability, and intensify food insecurity. Over 150 million individuals are already experiencing acute food insecurity, adding pressure to areas affected by climate disturbances.
Heatwaves Increase Risks of Disease and Food Shortages
As El Niño approaches its peak in late 2026, regions like Southern Africa, South America, and Australia will enter their hotter seasonal periods. This convergence amplifies concerns over heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and declining air quality. Elevated temperatures can aggravate conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, and metabolic issues. Additionally, heat stress can impair mental health and hinder nighttime recovery, especially in poorly ventilated homes. Wildfire smoke presents further respiratory threats, particularly for individuals with asthma and other lung conditions.
Climate and health agencies are intensifying efforts to link weather forecasting with public health planning. WMO collaborates with partners to enhance climate services tailored for health authorities and emergency response teams. The WHO remains focused on disease surveillance, preparedness, and swift response measures as El Niño develops. Both organizations recognize early warning systems as essential tools for reducing health impacts, emphasizing the use of reliable climate data to enable timely actions in vulnerable regions.