IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v22y2025i9p1451-d1752715.html

Too Hot to Ignore: The Escalating Health Impact of Heatwaves in Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Jessica M. Neves

    (Laboratory of Hantavirus and Rickettsias/BSL-3 Facility, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC-Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil)

  • Klauss K. S. Garcia

    (Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology and International Health, Faculty of Epidemiology and Populational Health, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
    Health and Surveillance Secretariat, Ministry of Health, Brasilia 70719-040, DF, Brazil)

  • Beatriz F. A. Oliveira

    (Piauí Regional Office, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Teresina 64000-128, PI, Brazil)

  • Marco A. Horta

    (Laboratory of Hantavirus and Rickettsias/BSL-3 Facility, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (IOC-Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil)

Abstract

Heatwaves (HWs) are becoming more frequent and severe, posing a significant threat to human health. Studies have shown that extreme heat, whether as incremental temperature increases or prolonged HWs, is associated with an increased risk of heat-related illnesses. However, there is still limited understanding of how these impacts unfold in Brazil, given its unique social, environmental, and health-system contexts. I this perspective article, we explore the effects of HWs on human physiology, examine the social and biological factors that contribute to heat stress, and identify vulnerable populations at disproportionate risk. We also discuss the potential consequences of extreme heat in other aspects of society, such as agriculture and energy, and assess the challenges of strengthening resilience in Brazil’s health sector. Our key contribution are to make visible the hidden burden of heat-related mortality, to examine how fragmented governance constrains the adaptive capacity of Brazil’s health sector, and to reflect on pathways to strengthen resilience to heatwaves.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica M. Neves & Klauss K. S. Garcia & Beatriz F. A. Oliveira & Marco A. Horta, 2025. "Too Hot to Ignore: The Escalating Health Impact of Heatwaves in Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(9), pages 1-10, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:9:p:1451-:d:1752715
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1451/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/22/9/1451/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ishak, Phoebe W., 2022. "Murder nature: Weather and violent crime in rural Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    2. Joel Henrique Ellwanger & Marina Ziliotto & Bruna Kulmann-Leal & José Artur Bogo Chies, 2025. "Environmental Challenges in Southern Brazil: Impacts of Pollution and Extreme Weather Events on Biodiversity and Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(2), pages 1-35, February.
    3. Fadly Syah Arsad & Rozita Hod & Norfazilah Ahmad & Rohaida Ismail & Norlen Mohamed & Mazni Baharom & Yelmizaitun Osman & Mohd Firdaus Mohd Radi & Fredolin Tangang, 2022. "The Impact of Heatwaves on Mortality and Morbidity and the Associated Vulnerability Factors: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, December.
    4. Kyusik Kim & Jihoon Jung & Claire Schollaert & June T. Spector, 2021. "A Comparative Assessment of Cooling Center Preparedness across Twenty-Five U.S. Cities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-16, April.
    5. Leso Munala & Elizabeth M. Allen & Andrew J. Frederick & Anne Ngũnjiri, 2023. "Climate Change, Extreme Weather, and Intimate Partner Violence in East African Agrarian-Based Economies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(23), pages 1-14, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Weiwei Hu & Darong Guo & Jianfang Wang & Shitai Bao, 2025. "A Decadal Assessment of the Coordinated Relationship Between Heat Risk and Cooling Resources in Guangzhou, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-19, August.
    2. Moreno-Louzada, Luca & Menezes-Filho, Naercio, 2024. "Technical change in agriculture and homicides: The case of genetically-modified soy seeds in Brazil," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    3. Zewdu, Degu & Krishnan C, Muralee & Raj, P.P. Nikhil & Arlikatti, Sudha & McAleavy, Tony, 2025. "Climate-smart innovation practices and sustainable rural livelihoods: A systematic literature review," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    4. Deema Abo Elassal & Yosef Jabareen, 2025. "Understanding Urban Adaptation Policy and Social Justice: A New Conceptual Framework for Just-Oriented Adaptation Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-28, May.
    5. Nogueira, Lauro & Rebouças de Souza, Nathanael Andray & Rodrigues, Fábio Lúcio & Gomes de Souza, Helson, 2025. "Violence and homicides in rural areas: An analysis of the homicide differential between rural and urban municipalities in Brazil," MPRA Paper 125310, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. David B. Olawade & Melissa McLaughlin & Yinka Julianah Adeniji & Gabriel Osasumwen Egbon & Arghavan Rahimi & Stergios Boussios, 2025. "Urban Microclimates and Their Relationship with Social Isolation: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(6), pages 1-32, June.
    7. Evgenia Tousi & Areti Tseliou & Athina Mela & Maria Sinou & Zoe Kanetaki & Sébastien Jacques, 2024. "Exploring Thermal Discomfort during Mediterranean Heatwaves through Softscape and Hardscape ENVI-Met Simulation Scenarios," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-37, July.
    8. Yoon, Liv & Tetzlaff, Emily J. & Chiu, Tiffany & Wong, Carson & Hiscox, Lucy & Choquette, Dominique & Mew, Samantha & Kenny, Glen P. & White, Randall F. & Schütz, Christian G., 2025. "Surviving the 2021 heat dome with schizophrenia: A qualitative, interview-based unpacking of risks and vulnerabilities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 366(C).
    9. Consolata Wangechi Macharia & Lawrence M. Kiage, 2024. "Conceptualizing heat vulnerability: equity-centered approaches for comprehensive resilience in a changing climate," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(8), pages 6923-6941, June.
    10. Olubunmi Margaret Ogbodu & Ayodeji Oluwabunmi Oriola & Busisiwe Mrara, 2025. "Climate Change and Its Health Impact in South Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(7), pages 1-11, July.
    11. Vu Thuy Huong Le & Jesse D. Berman & Quynh Anh Tran & Elizabeth V. Wattenberg & Bruce H. Alexander, 2022. "The Effects of Daily Temperature on Crime Events in Urban Hanoi, Vietnam Using Seven Years of Data (2013–2019)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-11, October.
    12. Angelo Olivares & Pamela Smith & Pablo Sarricolea & Oliver Meseguer-Ruiz, 2025. "Heat vulnerability index mapping through principal component analysis and equal weight methods: comparing Spatial patterns at a low urban scale and local climate zones in an arid mid-size South American coastal city," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(11), pages 13447-13473, June.
    13. Mory Toure & Ibrahima Sy & Ibrahima Diouf & Ousmane Gueye & Endalkachew Bekele & Md Abul Ehsan Bhuiyan & Marie Jeanne Sambou & Papa Ngor Ndiaye & Wassila Mamadou Thiaw & Daouda Badiane & Aida Diongue-, 2025. "Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Heatwave-Related Hospitalizations: A Case Study in Matam, Senegal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(9), pages 1-22, August.
    14. Barbara Gherri, 2023. "The Role of Urban Vegetation in Counteracting Overheating in Different Urban Textures," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-15, November.
    15. Pablo De Gea Grela & Diego Sánchez-González & Lorena Patricia Gallardo Peralta, 2024. "Urban and Rural Environments and Their Implications for Older Adults’ Adaptation to Heat Waves: A Systematic Review," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-29, August.
    16. Huihui Wang & Yunsong Yang & Suru Liu & Hanyu Xue & Tingting Xu & Wanlin He & Xiaoyong Gao & Ruifeng Jiang, 2024. "Unveiling the Coupling Coordination and Interaction Mechanism between the Local Heat Island Effect and Urban Resilience in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-28, March.
    17. Jérôme Weiss, 2025. "Short-Term Effects of Extreme Heat, Cold, and Air Pollution Episodes on Excess Mortality in Luxembourg," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(3), pages 1-20, March.
    18. Brunel, Claire & Liu, Maggie Y., 2025. "Out of the Frying Pan: Weather shocks and internal migration in Brazil," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    19. Nan Zhou & José Luis Vilar‐Zanón & Jose Garrido & Antonio José Heras‐Martínez, 2024. "Measuring climate change from an actuarial perspective: A survey of insurance applications," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 15(S7), pages 34-46, November.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:9:p:1451-:d:1752715. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.