Lower temperatures increase the risk of gastroenteritis among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Lower temperatures increase the risk of gastroenteritis among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

Colder temperatures are associated with increased risk of diarrhea among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, highlighting the need for climate-sensitive health strategies in refugee settings.

A new study by scientists at Hokkaido University has found that lower temperatures significantly increase the risk of gastroenteritis among Rohingya refugees living in Kutupalong and Nayapara camps in Bangladesh. Gastroenteritis is a viral or bacterial infection that causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines, resulting in diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Published inJama Network OpenThe study is the first to examine how temperature affects stomach illness in displaced populations and highlights the need for better climate health strategies to protect these vulnerable communities.

The Rohingya are among the largest stateless populations in the world, accounting for one-seven of the global stateless population. Bangladesh has hosted several waves of Rohingya refugees since 1948, with a significant increase in 2021 due to escalating unrest in Myanmar. Today, an estimated 918,898 Rohingya live in 34 camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. These camps are overcrowded, with populations reaching up to 60,000 people per square kilometer, causing serious public health challenges. Infectious diseases such as respiratory infections, viral fever and diarrhea are common due to unsanitary conditions, reliance on contaminated shallow wells and limited access to clean water, particularly during the dry season.

The study, which recorded data from over 64,000 cases of gastroenteritis in UNHCR-run clinics between 2019 and 2021, found a link between temperature changes and gastroenteritis risk. In Kutupalong, researchers found that the risk increased when temperatures either fell or rose above the reference temperature of 26°C. This suggests that both extreme cold and extreme heat contribute to a higher number of cases of gastroenteritis. In Nayapara, as temperatures fell, the risk of gastroenteritis steadily increased, without a clear threshold or tipping point.

A key finding of the study was that colder weather tended to have a delayed effect, with the peak number of gastroenteritis cases occurring about two and a half weeks (about 18 days) after exposure to cold temperatures. This delayed effect was consistent in both camps.

Research has shown that viral gastroenteritis, such as those caused by norovirus and rotavirus, are more common in colder weather and can last up to two weeks. In contrast, warmer temperatures create favorable conditions for bacterial infections such asSalmonellaAndCampylobacterwhich usually cause illness for a few days to a week. Our study shows how cold weather can drive the spread of gastroenteritis in refugee camps, where poor sanitation and limited access to clean water make infections even more difficult to control. “

Xerxes Seposo,Associate Professor,Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine at Hokkaido University, the corresponding author of the study and joint first author

The study highlights the growing threat that climate change poses to global health, particularly refugee populations. As population displacement increases, increasing understanding of how weather affects disease risks in these displaced populations (ieRefugee camps are becoming increasingly important. "While it is important to recognize the documented health risks of these vulnerable populations, greater emphasis and action is needed to strengthen the climate resilience of their health systems," said Takuya Takata of the Department of Hygiene at Hokkaido University, the study's other joint first author.

This study provides important insights into the health challenges of climate change. “As the Rohingya refugee population is expected to continue to grow, policymakers and humanitarian organizations must act quickly to ensure these communities receive the support and resources needed to adapt to the unpredictable impacts of climate change,” concludes Seposo.

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