More than 1,300 overweight deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21 related to high temperatures, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on June 28 (local time).
Right now, 150 million people are living under extreme heat, hundreds have died, schools have been closed, power grids are shrinking," Mr. Tedros said. He warned that, "thermal stress is often called'silent killer' and houses, workplaces and schools in Europe are not built to withstand these temperatures.
Mr. Tedros noted that Europe is the fastest warming continent on Earth, with twice the global average rate. "Due to climate change and global warming, the phenomenon of'new generation meeting once' is now happening" almost every year, he said.
WHO is coordinating with members and partners to respond to health threats caused by extreme heat, by focusing on preparation, prevention and stronger responses from the health system.
Mr. Tedros called on European countries to "deploy action plans on health in the face of heat waves" as part of a broader agenda to protect health from climate change.
