Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease Spread

Abstract Climate and infectious diseases each present critical challenges on a warming planet, as does the influence of climate on disease. Both are governed by nonlinear feedbacks, which drive multi‐annual cycles in disease outbreaks and weather patterns. Although climate and weather can influence...

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Main Authors: Maya V. Chung, Gabriel A. Vecchi, Wenchang Yang, Bryan Grenfell, C. Jessica Metcalf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2025-02-01
Series:GeoHealth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GH001193
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author Maya V. Chung
Gabriel A. Vecchi
Wenchang Yang
Bryan Grenfell
C. Jessica Metcalf
author_facet Maya V. Chung
Gabriel A. Vecchi
Wenchang Yang
Bryan Grenfell
C. Jessica Metcalf
author_sort Maya V. Chung
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Climate and infectious diseases each present critical challenges on a warming planet, as does the influence of climate on disease. Both are governed by nonlinear feedbacks, which drive multi‐annual cycles in disease outbreaks and weather patterns. Although climate and weather can influence infectious disease transmission and have spawned rich literature, the interaction between the independent feedbacks of these two systems remains less explored. Here, we demonstrate the potential for long‐lasting impacts of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on disease dynamics using two approaches: interannual perturbations of a generic SIRS model to represent ENSO forcing, and detailed analysis of realistic specific humidity data in an SIRS model with endemic coronavirus (HCoV‐HKU1) parameters. Our findings reveal the importance of considering nonlinear feedbacks in susceptible population dynamics for predicting and managing disease risks associated with ENSO‐related weather variations.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 2471-1403
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher American Geophysical Union (AGU)
record_format Article
series GeoHealth
spelling doaj-art-3ba28e5c1f414c489410ddba49da73cf2025-08-20T02:25:45ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)GeoHealth2471-14032025-02-0192n/an/a10.1029/2024GH001193Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease SpreadMaya V. Chung0Gabriel A. Vecchi1Wenchang Yang2Bryan Grenfell3C. Jessica Metcalf4Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton NJ USAProgram in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton NJ USADepartment of Geosciences Princeton University Princeton NJ USAHigh Meadows Environmental Institute Princeton University Princeton NJ USAHigh Meadows Environmental Institute Princeton University Princeton NJ USAAbstract Climate and infectious diseases each present critical challenges on a warming planet, as does the influence of climate on disease. Both are governed by nonlinear feedbacks, which drive multi‐annual cycles in disease outbreaks and weather patterns. Although climate and weather can influence infectious disease transmission and have spawned rich literature, the interaction between the independent feedbacks of these two systems remains less explored. Here, we demonstrate the potential for long‐lasting impacts of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events on disease dynamics using two approaches: interannual perturbations of a generic SIRS model to represent ENSO forcing, and detailed analysis of realistic specific humidity data in an SIRS model with endemic coronavirus (HCoV‐HKU1) parameters. Our findings reveal the importance of considering nonlinear feedbacks in susceptible population dynamics for predicting and managing disease risks associated with ENSO‐related weather variations.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GH001193infectious diseaseENSOclimate variabilitydisease forecasting
spellingShingle Maya V. Chung
Gabriel A. Vecchi
Wenchang Yang
Bryan Grenfell
C. Jessica Metcalf
Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease Spread
GeoHealth
infectious disease
ENSO
climate variability
disease forecasting
title Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease Spread
title_full Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease Spread
title_fullStr Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease Spread
title_full_unstemmed Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease Spread
title_short Intersecting Memories of Immunity and Climate: Potential Multiyear Impacts of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation on Infectious Disease Spread
title_sort intersecting memories of immunity and climate potential multiyear impacts of the el nino southern oscillation on infectious disease spread
topic infectious disease
ENSO
climate variability
disease forecasting
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GH001193
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