With the first West Nile virus case already reported in Salt Lake County earlier this year, it’s clear that climate change is reshaping the health risks that we face as Utahns. Hotter summers and warmer nights allow mosquitos to survive and spread viruses more efficiently. Extreme heat accelerates biological processes — mosquitos reproduce faster, then bite more often, thus spreading viruses faster (“The Heat Will Kill You First,” Jeff Goodell).
Something that gives me hope is the way young people in Utah have stepped up on climate issues. Youth activists can transform climate anxiety into meaningful action, and we’re seeing that energy more and more. Local students push for cleaner air and urban heat solutions and protest for better environmental education and action. Addressing the West Nile risk can become a part of this momentum. Goodell emphasizes that heat is a force multiplier, and it worsens existing public health risks, including mosquito-borne illness.
We can expand community volunteer days to support shaded green-space projects that reduce urban heat as well as mosquito breeding. We can push local officials to increase public health outreach earlier on in the season. Utahns care deeply about our outdoor spaces; it’s our backyard. Protecting our communities from West Nile is yet another way we can protect the places that we love — while also reminding ourselves that we all share the responsibility for climate adaptation.
Mei Curry
Salt Lake City