Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T20:17:12.177Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Infectious Diseases Following Disasters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2013

Srinivas Murthy  and
Michael D. Christian
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Infectious diseases following natural disasters tend to occur as a result of the prolonged secondary effects of the disaster, mostly when there is an interruption of public health measures resulting from destruction of the local infrastructure. This article will review the infectious risks that occur as a result of natural disasters, with a focus on the mechanism of disease spread, infectious diseases after specific disasters, and various evidence-based interventions.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2010;4:232-238)

Keywords

infectious diseasespublic healthdisasters
Type
Review Article
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 4 , Issue 3 , October 2010 , pp. 232 - 238
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Binder, S, Sanderson, LM.The role of the epidemiologist in natural disasters. Ann Emerg Med. 1987;16 (9):1081–1084.Google Scholar
2.Lechat, MF.Disaster epidemiology. Ann Soc Belg Med Trop. 1976;56 (4-5):193–197.Google ScholarPubMed
3.Emergency care in natural disasters. Views of an international seminar. WHO Chron. 1980;34 (3):96–100.Google Scholar
4.Shears, P.Epidemiology and infection in famine and disasters. Epidemiol Infect. 1991;107 (2):241–251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.The risk of disease outbreaks after natural disasters. WHO Chron. 1979;33 (6):214–216.Google Scholar
6.Adhikari, A, Jung, J, Reponen, T, et alAerosolization of fungi, (1–>3)-beta-D glucan, and endotoxin from flood-affected materials collected in New Orleans homes. Environ Res. 2009;109 (3):215–224.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Schneider, E, Hajjeh, RA, Spiegel, RA, et alA coccidioidomycosis outbreak following the Northridge, Calif, earthquake. JAMA. 1997;277 (11):904–908.Google Scholar
8.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infectious disease and dermatologic conditions in evacuees and rescue workers after Hurricane Katrina—multiple states, August–September, 2005. MMWR. 2005;54 (38):961–964.Google Scholar
9.Morgan, O.Infectious disease risks from dead bodies following natural disasters. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2004;15 (5):307–312.Google Scholar
10.Gionis, TA, Wecht, CH, Marshall, LW Jr, Hagigi, FA.Dead bodies, disasters, and the myths about them: is public health law misinformed? Am J Disaster Med. 2007;2 (4):173–188.Google Scholar
11.de Ville de Goyet, C.Stop propagating disaster myths. Lancet. 2000;356 (9231):762–764.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Chhotray, GP, Pal, BB, Khuntia, HK, et alIncidence and molecular analysis of Vibrio cholerae associated with cholera outbreak subsequent to the super cyclone in Orissa, India. Epidemiol Infect. 2002;128 (2):131–138.Google Scholar
13.Alexander, D.Disease epidemiology and earthquake disaster. The example of Southern Italy after the 23 November 1980 earthquake. Soc Sci Med. 1982;16 (22):1959–1969.Google Scholar
14.Ligon, BL.Infectious diseases that pose specific challenges after natural disasters: a review. Semin Pediatr Infect Dis. 2006;17 (1):36–45.Google Scholar
15.Schmid, D, Lederer, I, Much, P, Pichler, AM, Allerberger, F.Outbreak of norovirus infection associated with contaminated flood water, Salzburg, 2005. Euro Surveill.2005;10:E050616.3.Google Scholar
16.Phanuwan, C, Takizawa, S, Oguma, K, Katayama, H, Yunika, A, Ohgaki, S.Monitoring of human enteric viruses and coliform bacteria in waters after urban flood in Jakarta, Indonesia. Water Sci Technol. 2006;54 (3):203–210.Google Scholar
17.Nomura, K, Murai, H, Nakahashi, T, et alOutbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis in elderly evacuees after the 2007 Noto Peninsula earthquake in Japan. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008;56 (2):361–363.Google Scholar
18.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Norovirus outbreak among evacuees from hurricane Katrina—Houston, Texas, September 2005. MMWR. 2005;54 (40):1016–1018.Google Scholar
19.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Surveillance of shelters after Hurricane Hugo–Puerto Rico. MMWR. 1990;39 (3):41–42, 47.Google Scholar
20.Connolly, MACommunicable Disease Control in Emergencies: A Field Manual. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2005.Google Scholar
21.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Outbreak of diarrheal illness associated with a natural disaster—Utah. MMWR. 1983;32 (50):662–664.Google Scholar
22.Kunii, O, Nakamura, S, Abdur, R, Wakai, S.The impact on health and risk factors of the diarrhoea epidemics in the 1998 Bangladesh floods. Public Health. 2002;116 (2):68–74.Google Scholar
23.Shears, P.The Khartoum floods and diarrhoeal diseases. Lancet. 1988;2 (8609):5172900449.Google Scholar
24.Wade, TJ, Sandhu, SK, Levy, D, et alDid a severe flood in the Midwest cause an increase in the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms? Am J Epidemiol. 2004;159 (4):398–405.Google Scholar
25.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Morbidity surveillance following the midwest flood—Missouri, 1993. MMWR. 1993;42 (41):797–798.Google Scholar
26.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Public health consequences of a flood disaster—Iowa, 1993. MMWR. 1993;42 (34):653–656.Google Scholar
27.Setzer, C, Domino, ME.Medicaid outpatient utilization for waterborne pathogenic illness following Hurricane Floyd. Public Health Rep. 2004;119 (5):472–478.Google Scholar
28.O'Leary, DR, Rigau-Perez, JG, Hayes, EB, Vorndam, AV, Clark, GG, Gubler, DJ.Assessment of dengue risk in relief workers in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Georges, 1998. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2002;66 (1):35–39.Google Scholar
29.Rao, CY, Riggs, MA, Chew, GL, et alCharacterization of airborne molds, endotoxins, and glucans in homes in New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2007;73 (5):1630–1634.Google Scholar
30.Noji, EK.Analysis of medical needs during disasters caused by tropical cyclones: anticipated injury patterns. J Trop Med Hyg. 1993;96 (6):370–376.Google Scholar
31.Lee, LE, Fonseca, V, Brett, KM, et alActive morbidity surveillance after Hurricane Andrew—Florida, 1992. JAMA. 1993;270 (5):591–594.Google Scholar
32.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vibrio illnesses after Hurricane Katrina—multiple states, August–September 2005. MMWR. 2005;54 (37):928–931.Google Scholar
33.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two cases of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 infection after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita—Louisiana, October 2005. MMWR. 2006;55:31–32.Google Scholar
34.Yee, EL, Palacio, H, Atmar, RL, et alWidespread outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis among evacuees of Hurricane Katrina residing in a large “megashelter” in Houston, Texas: lessons learned for prevention. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;44 (8):1032–1039.Google Scholar
35.Millie, M, Senkowski, C, Stuart, L, Davis, F, Ochsner, G, Boyd, C.Tornado disaster in rural Georgia: triage response, injury patterns, lessons learned. Am Surg. 2000;66 (3):223–228.Google Scholar
36.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Earthquake-associated deaths—California. MMWRp. 1989;38 (45):767–770.Google Scholar
37.De Bruycker, M, Greco, D, Lechat, MF, Annino, I, De Ruggiero, N, Triassi, M.The 1980 earthquake in Southern Italy—morbidity and mortality. Int J Epidemiol. 1985;14 (1):113–117.Google Scholar
38.Lora-Suarez, F, Marin-Vasquez, C, Loango, N, et alGiardiasis in children living in post-earthquake camps from Armenia (Colombia). BMC Public Health. 2002;2:511914149.Google Scholar
39.Vahaboglu, H, Gundes, S, Karadenizli, A, et alTransient increase in diarrheal diseases after the devastating earthquake in Kocaeli, Turkey: results of an infectious disease surveillance study. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;31 (6):1386–1389.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40.Andresen, D, Donaldson, A, Choo, L, et alMultifocal cutaneous mucormycosis complicating polymicrobial wound infections in a tsunami survivor from Sri Lanka. Lancet. 2005;365 (9462):876–878.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
41.Maegele, M, Gregor, S, Steinhausen, E, et alThe long-distance tertiary air transfer and care of tsunami victims: injury pattern and microbiological and psychological aspects. Crit Care Med. 2005;33 (5):1136–1140.Google Scholar
42.Lautze, S, Leaning, J, Raven-Roberts, A, Kent, R, Mazurana, D.Assistance, protection, and governance networks in complex emergencies. Lancet. 2004;364 (9451):2134–2141.Google Scholar
43.Connolly, MA, Gayer, M, Ryan, MJ, Salama, P, Spiegel, P, Heymann, DL.Communicable diseases in complex emergencies: impact and challenges. Lancet. 2004;364 (9449):1974–1983.Google Scholar
44.Salama, P, Spiegel, P, Talley, L, Waldman, R.Lessons learned from complex emergencies over past decade. Lancet. 2004;364 (9447):1801–1813.Google Scholar
45.Bissell, RA.Delayed-impact infectious disease after a natural disaster. J Emerg Med. 1983;1 (1):59–66.Google Scholar
46.Oztürk, CE, Sahin, I, Yavuz, T, Ozturk, A, Akgunoglu, M, Kaya, D.Intestinal parasitic infection in children in post-disaster situations years after earthquake. Pediatr Int. 2004;46 (6):656–662.Google Scholar
47.Aghababian, RV, Teuscher, J.Infectious diseases following major disasters. Ann Emerg Med. 1992;21 (4):362–367.Google Scholar
48.Heyman, SN, Ginosar, Y, Niel, L, et alMeningococcal meningitis among Rwandan refugees: diagnosis, management, and outcome in a field hospital. Int J Infect Dis. 1998;2 (3):137–142.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
49.Moore, PS, Toole, MJ, Nieburg, P, Waldman, RJ, Broome, CV.Surveillance and control of meningococcal meningitis epidemics in refugee populations. Bull World Health Organ. 1990;68 (5):587–596.Google Scholar
50.Santaniello-Newton, A, Hunter, PR.Management of an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis in a Sudanese refugee camp in northern Uganda. Epidemiol Infect. 2000;124 (1):75–81.Google Scholar
51.Murray, KO, Kilborn, C, DesVignes-Kendrick, M, et alEmerging disease syndromic surveillance for Hurricane Katrina evacuees seeking shelter in Houston's Astrodome and Reliant Park Complex. Public Health Rep. 2009;124 (3):364–371.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
52.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Public health assessment and surveillance after a disaster. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/surveillance. Accessed April 13, 2010.Google Scholar
53.Pittet, D, Sax, H, Hugonnet, S, Harbarth, S.Cost implications of successful hand hygiene promotion. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004;25 (3):264–266.Google Scholar
54.Watson, JT, Gayer, M, Connolly, MA.Epidemics after natural disasters. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007;13 (1):1–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
55.Howard, MJ, Brillman, JC, Burkle, FM JrInfectious disease emergencies in disasters. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 1996;14 (2):413–428.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
56.Avis, K, Tan, L, Anderson, C, Tan, B, Muhajarine, N.Taking a closer look: an examination of measles, mumps, and rubella immunization uptake in Saskatoon. Can J Public Health. 2007;98 (5):417–421.Google Scholar
57.Lamden, KH, Gemmell, I.General practice factors and MMR vaccine uptake: structure, process and demography. J Public Health (Oxf). 2008;30 (3):251–257.Google Scholar
58.Salama, P, Assefa, F, Talley, L, Spiegel, P, van Der Veen, A, Gotway, CA.Malnutrition, measles, mortality, and the humanitarian response during a famine in Ethiopia. JAMA. 2001;286 (5):563–571.Google Scholar
59.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Interim immunization recommendations for individuals displaced by a disaster. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/disease/vaccrecdisplaced.asp. Published September 12, 2008. Accessed August 14, 2009.Google Scholar
60.Ahlawat, S, Kumar, R, Roy, P, Varma, S, Sharma, BK.Meningococcal meningitis outbreak control strategies. J Commun Dis. 2000;32 (4):264–274.Google ScholarPubMed
61.Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report Ministry of Health Pakistan; 2006 01 May 06. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/KHII-6PQ3KG?OpenDocument&query=pakistan. Accessed May 24, 2010.Google Scholar
62.Morgan, O, de Ville de Goyet, C.Dispelling disaster myths about dead bodies and disease: the role of scientific evidence and the media. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2005;18 (1):33–36.Google Scholar
63.Clark, RA, Besch, L, Murphy, M, et alSix months later: the effect of Hurricane Katrina on health care for persons living with HIV/AIDS in New Orleans. AIDS Care. 2006;18(Suppl 1)S59–S61.Google Scholar
64.Miller, AC, Arquilla, B.Chronic diseases and natural hazards: impact of disasters on diabetic, renal, and cardiac patients. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2008;23 (2):185–194.Google Scholar
65.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection control after a disaster. http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/infectioncontrol.asp. Accessed September 14, 2009.Google Scholar
66.World Health Organization. Standard health kits—new emergency health kit 98. http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/ems/new_health_kit_content/en/index.html. Accessed April 13, 2010.Google Scholar