The Threat of Communicable Diseases Following Natural Disasters: A Public Health Response

Natural disasters, such as the recent Indian Ocean tsunami, can have a rapid onset, broad impact, and produce many factors that work synergistically to increase the risk of morbidity and mortality caused by communicable diseases. The primary goal of emergency health interventions is to prevent epide...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Disaster management & response 2005-04, Vol.3 (2), p.41-47
Main Authors: Waring, Stephen C., Brown, Bruce J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Communicable Disease Control - organization & administration
Communicable Diseases - epidemiology
Communicable Diseases - etiology
Disaster Planning - organization & administration
Disasters - statistics & numerical data
Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control
Disease Outbreaks - statistics & numerical data
Emergency Medical Services - organization & administration
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Nursing
Organizational Objectives
Planning Techniques
Population Surveillance
Public Health - methods
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Sanitation
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Summary:Natural disasters, such as the recent Indian Ocean tsunami, can have a rapid onset, broad impact, and produce many factors that work synergistically to increase the risk of morbidity and mortality caused by communicable diseases. The primary goal of emergency health interventions is to prevent epidemics and improve deteriorating health conditions among the population affected. Morbidity and mortality due to infectious diseases can be minimized providing these intervention efforts are implemented in a timely and coordinated fashion. This article presents a review of some of the major issues relevant to preparedness and response for natural disasters.
ISSN:1540-2487
1540-2495
DOI:10.1016/j.dmr.2005.02.003