GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / RankWire.AI / – As El Niño intensifies and elevates climate-related health dangers, global health organizations are calling for enhanced readiness. The World Meteorological Organization anticipates the event reaching very strong levels before the close of 2026, with primary concerns including extreme heat, drought, flooding, wildfire smoke, and deteriorating air quality. Altered rainfall patterns may further strain food resources, water infrastructure, and public health systems in susceptible regions.
Forecasts indicate a near certainty that El Niño will persist until February 2027, supported by unusually warm waters across the tropical Pacific. The most intense conditions are predicted for late 2026. Such phenomena can significantly modify rainfall and temperature trends globally, potentially causing drought in some areas and increased flooding in others. Elevated temperatures may also occur during already warm seasonal periods.
Celeste Saulo, the secretary-general of WMO, emphasized the importance of improved collaboration between meteorological services and health agencies. She underscored the necessity of integrating climate data into public health planning and early warning frameworks. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable because of how roads and structures absorb and retain heat. Prolonged hot periods elevate risks for older adults, children, and outdoor workers, while individuals with existing health issues may experience amplified effects from sustained high temperatures.
Health Infrastructure Confronts Broader Climate Challenges
World Health Organization released a comprehensive global health assessment on El Niño in September, highlighting the importance of preparedness, monitoring, and swift intervention by health authorities at national and regional levels. The report explores risks related to heat, water security, infectious diseases, and nutrition, recommending that health systems leverage seasonal climate forecasts to anticipate periods of heightened vulnerability. It also stresses the importance of monitoring at-risk populations as rainfall and temperature patterns evolve.
Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns can foster conditions favorable for mosquito-borne illnesses such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika, prompting health agencies to keep a close watch. Flooding and water shortages may heighten concerns over cholera in vulnerable communities, while droughts threaten crops, diminish water availability, and exacerbate food insecurity. Currently, over 150 million people are facing acute food insecurity, intensifying the strain on regions impacted by climate disturbances.
Heat Waves Amplify Disease and Food Risks
As El Niño approaches its late-2026 peak, regions such as southern Africa, South America, and Australia will enter their warmer seasons. This timing heightens awareness of threats like heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and degraded air quality. Elevated temperatures can aggravate cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, and metabolic illnesses, while also impacting mental health and impairing nighttime recovery in poorly ventilated homes. Wildfire smoke adds further respiratory risks, especially for those with asthma and other lung conditions.
Both climate and health authorities are intensifying efforts to link weather forecasts with public health decision-making. The WMO collaborates with partners to enhance climate services tailored for health agencies and emergency planners. Meanwhile, WHO continues to focus on disease surveillance, preparedness, and rapid response as El Niño unfolds. Early warning systems are identified as key tools for mitigating health risks, emphasizing the importance of utilizing verified climate information to enable timely action in vulnerable regions.