El Nino puts India on high health-risk radar, says WHO

NEW DELHI: With dengue cases rising in several parts of the country, a WHO assessment has flagged India among nations facing high or very high health risks as a strengthening El Nino event alters weather patterns across South Asia.El Nino is a periodic warming of surface waters in central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that can disrupt weather patterns around the world, influencing rainfall and temperatures far beyond the Pacific.WHO's Global Public Health Situation Analysis - El Nino 2026, released on Sept 5, has identified India as being at high or very high risk, with most of South Asia expected to experience drier-than-normal conditions and above-normal heat during Aug-Oct.The warning comes at a time when vector-borne diseases are already rising in parts of the country. In Delhi, 90 dengue cases were reported in Aug, the highest monthly tally this year, taking the total to 311 by Aug 29.