Final answer:
El Niño events can lead to changes in weather patterns that create favorable conditions for disease-carrying insects and the spread of diseases. For example, wet El Niño weather in the southwestern United States has been linked to an increase in the population of deer mice that carry a respiratory disease. The connection between El Niño and disease transmission is due to the changes in weather patterns that occur during El Niño events.
Step-by-step explanation:
El Niño, a warm ocean current that occurs every few years off the west coast of South America, has been found to have a connection with the transmission of diseases. During El Niño events, there are changes in weather patterns around the world, which can lead to extreme weather conditions in some regions. These changes, such as increased rainfall, can create favorable conditions for disease-carrying insects and the spread of diseases to new areas.
For example, in the southwestern United States, wet El Niño weather has been linked to the increase in the population of deer mice. These mice may carry a virus called Sin Nombre, which causes respiratory disease in humans and has a high fatality rate. The wet weather leads to an increase in food availability, such as pinyon nuts, which leads to an explosion in the deer mouse population. This, in turn, increases the risk of transmission of the disease to humans.
Overall, the connection between El Niño and the transmission of diseases is due to the changes in weather patterns caused by El Niño events, which can create favorable conditions for disease-carrying insects and the spread of diseases to new regions.