**7. Drought**

Drought can be a hidden risk with the potential to cause a public health disaster [87]. A SR of the health effects of drought found the main categories included: Nutrition-related effects; water-related disease (including *Escherichia coli*, cholera and algal bloom); airborne and dust-related disease (including coccidioidomycosis); vector borne disease (including malaria, dengue and West Nile Virus); mental health effects; and other health effects [88]. A review in Canada found that drought can affect respiratory and mental health, with illnesses related to exposure to toxins, food, water and vector-borne diseases [89]. Drought-related health impacts vary widely and depend upon drought severity, population vulnerability, health and sanitation infrastructure, and available resources with which to mitigate impacts as they occur. Population resilience is affected by socio-economic environment. A SR has examined the likely impacts of climate change on water quality and disease in the Mekong delta basin [90].
