WMO Calls For Urgent Action To Mitigate El Niño's Health Risks
WMO Calls For Urgent Act To Limit Health Risks Of El Niño
By Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88)
Published: September 23, 2026 | 09:30 PM
GENEVA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 23rd Sep, 2026) Countries and communities worldwide are urged to take immediate action in preparation for heightened health risks associated with the intensifying El Niño phenomenon. Predicted to strengthen into a very severe event by year's end, El Niño will have far-reaching consequences on economies and societies, as per the latest World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) update.
The effects of El Niño are already being observed in climate-sensitive sectors, particularly health. “This El Niño is a test," said WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo during an event at the United General Assembly in New York. "We have the science. We have advance warning. And we still have time to act.”
El Niño begins in the tropical Pacific but its repercussions extend globally, altering rainfall patterns and increasing the likelihood of extreme temperatures in cities already grappling with heat issues.
*“In cities already struggling with heat," explained Ms. Saulo, "the effects reach inside homes, workplaces, schools, and hospitals." She called on governments, health authorities, and community organizations to collaborate with meteorological services to address extreme heat as a serious public health concern.
WMO is collaborating with partners to enhance climate services for health, bridging the gap between health and meteorological communities to ensure timely delivery of forecasts to healthcare authorities in formats suitable for saving lives.
As El Niño peaks late 2026, much of the Southern Hemisphere, including southern Africa, South America, and Australia, will experience their hottest season from early 2027 onwards. This will compound existing risks of drought, wildfires, smoke, and air pollution.
Urban dwellers are particularly vulnerable due to the urban heat island effect, where buildings and roads absorb and retain heat during the day, slowly releasing it at night. This poses challenges for older individuals, children, outdoor workers, people with chronic illnesses, and residents of poorly ventilated housing.
Heat exposure directly affects human bodily functions and can exacerbate various health conditions, including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, metabolic, and mental disorders. Wildfire smoke and poor air quality will also be concerns in many regions.
Warmer temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns can expand the range of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika, potentially introducing these diseases to new geographical areas, including higher altitudes.