Telegraph The country is battling simultaneous outbreaks of dengue, Zika and – for the first time – chikungunya.
A triple outbreak of dengue, chikungunya and Zika is threatening an island just an hour’s flight from Australia in what experts warn is a “wake-up call” of the dangers of climate change.
Timor-Leste, bordering Indonesia, has seen its mosquito population spiral out of control as wet and warm weather provides the perfect breeding ground for diseases spread by the insect.
Amid the surge, Timor-Leste recorded its first ever chikungunya outbreak, a condition causing debilitating joint pain with no vaccination or treatment, on record.
Outbreaks of dengue have also been registered, with 147 total cases as of January, as well as Zika, which causes birth defects.
Experts told the Telegraph that the triple outbreak reflects the glaring risks associated with climate change, which will extend the wet and warm mosquito breeding season.