Administering a substance to a laboratory animal (rat). (Image courtesy of Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)
SEOUL, July 1 (Korea Bizwire) – Climate change may trigger a rise in rodent-borne infectious diseases as shifting weather patterns expand rodent habitats and food sources, a leading South Korean ecologist warned on Monday.
Speaking at a symposium titled “Climate Crisis and Zoonotic Disease Response” held at the National Human Resources Bank in Osong, Choi Kyung-seong, professor at Kyungpook National University, said warmer, longer summers and shorter winters are creating favorable conditions for rodent populations to thrive.
“Insects, which are a primary food source for rodents, are spreading to new habitats as the climate warms,” Choi said. “This leads to population booms in rodent species, which in turn raises the risk of zoonotic disease transmission into new areas.”
The symposium, jointly organized by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), the National Institute of Health, and academic institutions, was convened to explore strategies for responding to the growing threat of diseases transmitted between animals and humans.
Diseases commonly spread by rodents include plague, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), leptospirosis, and toxoplasmosis. These pathogens often reach humans through rodent droppings, urine, saliva, or parasites such as ticks and mites.
Choi called for a comprehensive nationwide survey of rodent populations and disease prevalence, criticizing the current research landscape for its overemphasis on hantavirus studies. “We must broaden our scope to include unknown pathogens and be better prepared for emerging threats in the post-COVID era,” he said.
KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee echoed the urgency, noting that climate change and increased global mobility are amplifying the frequency and impact of zoonotic diseases. “We are committed to expanding evidence-based policies and enhancing predictive and responsive capacities to better address these public health challenges,” she said.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
