Colder temperatures increase stomach issues in Rohingya refugee camps: Study
The research published in JAMA Network Open shows that even small changes in temperature can lead to a rise in diarrhoea cases in some of the world's most crowded refugee camps.Researchers from Hokkaido University, Japan, looked at more than 64,000 cases of gastroenteritis reported between 2019 and 2021 in two major Rohingya camps, Kutupalong and Nayapara in Bangladesh.
Gastroenteritis is when your stomach and intestines get irritated or inflamed. ()
In Kutupalong camp, cases of gastroenteritis rose whenever temperatures dropped below or exceeded 26 degress Celsius. In Nayapara, the risk of infection increased steadily as temperatures fell, without a clear temperature threshold or turning point.advertisementIn both camps, cases didn't spike right away. People usually started getting sick about 18 days after the cold weather hit, showing that low temperatures had a delayed impact on the spread of the illness.More than 9,18,000 Rohingya currently live in 34 camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, following decades of displacement. Some areas within these camps have population densities exceeding 60,000 people per square kilometre, significantly increasing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks."Viral gastroenteritis, such as that caused by norovirus and rotavirus, tends to be more prevalent in colder months and can last for up to two weeks," said Xerxes Seposo of the Department of Hygiene, Graduate School of Medicine at Hokkaido University.
Children pose for a photo in the camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. More than a million Rohingyas, who were displaced due to the long-standing oppression in Myanmar, continue to live in the makeshift camps. ()
"In contrast, warmer temperatures create favourable conditions for bacterial infections like Salmonella and Campylobacter, which typically cause illness for a few days to a week," Seposo said.advertisementHis co-author, Takuya Takata, highlighted that health systems in refugee settings must prepare for climate-sensitive challenges. "Temperature extremes, especially cold spells, are not typically factored into disease surveillance in camps, but they should be," he said.Seposo stressed the urgency of strengthening sanitation, water access, and surveillance in climate-vulnerable regions, especially in displaced populations.As global temperatures continue to shift, health systems must adapt quickly to protect those already at heightened risk.
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