Warmer North Carolina Summers Increase Risk of Viruses and Diseases
RALEIGH, N.C. — As North Carolina summers grow hotter and wetter, health experts warn that the state faces rising threats from viruses, bacteria, and insect-borne illnesses linked to climate change.
Hotter Summers Fuel Disease Spread
North Carolina has seen five of its six warmest years on record since 2016, according to NOAA data. July 2025 ranked as the second-warmest July ever recorded in the state, with Wilmington hitting record-breaking overnight lows that stayed above 70 degrees for nearly two months.
Experts say these conditions are expanding the active seasons for mosquitoes and ticks, which thrive in heat and humidity and are able to spread diseases like Zika, dengue fever, West Nile virus, Chikungunya, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Vibrio and Salmonella on the Rise
Beyond insect-borne illnesses, warming waters are fueling dangerous bacterial threats. Cases of Vibrio vulnificus, a flesh-eating bacterium once mostly confined to the Gulf Coast, are moving up the Eastern Seaboard at a rate of about 30 miles per year. North Carolina has already seen dozens of infections this year, including at least one death.
Foodborne illness is another concern. Researchers at the University of Surrey found that warmer, wetter conditions increase Salmonella risks, since bacteria grow more easily in heat and high humidity.
Climate Change Connection
Meteorologists and climate scientists link these health threats directly to climate change, which is driving longer summers, warmer nights, and heavier rainfall events. These conditions create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, ticks, and harmful bacteria.
For residents, that means a growing need to protect against insect bites, avoid swimming with open wounds, and follow safe food handling practices during hotter months.
Have you noticed more mosquitoes, ticks, or unusual illnesses during recent North Carolina summers? Share your experience with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
