Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
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Disaster Med Public Health Prep · Oct 2013
Assessment of reportable disease incidence after Hurricane Sandy, New York City, 2012.
Hurricane Sandy's October 29, 2012 arrival in New York City caused flooding, power disruption, and population displacement. Infectious disease risk may have been affected by floodwater exposure, residence in emergency shelters, overcrowding, and lack of refrigeration or heating. For 42 reportable diseases that could have been affected by hurricane-related exposures, we developed methods to assess whether hurricane-affected areas had higher disease incidence than other areas of NYC. ⋯ Hurricane Sandy did not appear to elevate reportable disease incidence in NYC. Defining and acquiring reliable data and meta-data regarding hurricane-affected areas was a challenge in the weeks post-storm. Relevant metrics could be developed during disaster preparedness planning. These methods to detect excess disease can be adapted for future emergencies.
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Disaster Med Public Health Prep · Oct 2013
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyEffectiveness of a primary health care program on urban and rural community disaster preparedness, Islamic Republic of Iran: a community intervention trial.
To evaluate the effectiveness of a capacity-building intervention administered through a primary health care (PHC) system on community disaster preparedness in Iran. ⋯ An educational intervention administered through the PHC system effectively improved disaster awareness and readiness at a community level. For sustainability, community disaster reduction programs must be integrated into routine public health service delivery.
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Disaster Med Public Health Prep · Oct 2013
Review Comparative StudyThe Japan Medical Association's disaster preparedness: lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.
A complex disaster, the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, consisted of a large-scale earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident, resulting in more than 15 000 fatalities, injuries, and missing persons and damage over a 500-km area. The entire Japanese public was profoundly affected by "3/11." The risk of radiation exposure initially delayed the medical response, prolonging the recovery efforts. Japan's representative medical organization, the Japan Medical Association (JMA), began dispatching Japan Medical Association Teams (JMATs) to affected areas beginning March 15, 2011. ⋯ Subsequently, JMATs II have been providing long-term continuing medical support to disaster-affected areas. However, Japan is at great risk for future natural disasters because of its Pacific Rim location. Also, its rapidly aging population, uneven distribution of and shortage of medical resources in regional communities, and an overburdened public health insurance system highlight the need for a highly prepared and effective disaster response system.