scholarly journals Natural disasters and infectious disease in Europe: a literature review to identify cascading risk pathways

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 928-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan E Suk ◽  
Eleanor C Vaughan ◽  
Robert G Cook ◽  
Jan C Semenza
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Cascading Effect ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Post Disaster

Abstract Background Natural disasters are increasing in their frequency and complexity. Understanding how their cascading effects can lead to infectious disease outbreaks is important for developing cross-sectoral preparedness strategies. The review focussed on earthquakes and floods because of their importance in Europe and their potential to elucidate the pathways through which natural disasters can lead to infectious disease outbreaks. Methods A systematic literature review complemented by a call for evidence was conducted to identify earthquake or flooding events in Europe associated with potential infectious disease events. Results This review included 17 peer-reviewed papers that reported on suspected and confirmed infectious disease outbreaks following earthquakes (4 reports) or flooding (13 reports) in Europe. The majority of reports related to food- and water-borne disease. Eleven studies described the cascading effect of post-disaster outbreaks. The most reported driver of disease outbreaks was heavy rainfall, which led to cross-connections between water and other environmental systems, leading to the contamination of rivers, lakes, springs and water supplies. Exposure to contaminated surface water or floodwater following flooding, exposure to animal excreta and post-disaster living conditions were among other reported drivers of outbreaks. Conclusions The cascade effects of natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, include outbreaks of infectious disease. The projection that climate change-related extreme weather events will increase in Europe in the coming century highlights the importance of strengthening preparedness planning and measures to mitigate and control outbreaks in post-disaster settings.

scholarly journals Subjective Attribution of Infectious Disease Outbreaks to Climate Change is Associated with Mitigation Behavioural Intentions and COVID-19 Recovery Policy Support

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagadish Thaker
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Human Impact ◽  
Public Engagement ◽  
Attribution Theory ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Behavioural Intentions ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Scholars argue that personal experience with climate change related impacts has the potential to increase public engagement. Yet, previous studies, which have almost exclusively focussed on experience with extreme weather events, provide mixed results. Based on experiential learning and attribution theory, this article argues that unless individuals’ attribute an event as related to or caused by climate change, their responses may be misdirected. Results based on survey data from a nationally representative sample of the New Zealand public indicates that subjective attribution of infectious disease outbreaks to climate change and to the human impact on the environment is positively associated with mitigation behavioural intentions and policy support. In addition, political affiliation moderates the relationship between subjective attribution and mitigation policy support, indicating a higher potential for right-leaning compared to moderates or left-leaning respondents to learn about climate change through health-related climate change impacts. Helping people understand the role of human impact on the environment and climate change in infectious disease outbreaks is likely to increase public engagement.

scholarly journals Health Workforce Strategies in Response to Major Health Events: A Rapid Scoping Review with Lessons Learned for the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Coates ◽  
Asli Oubah Fuad ◽  
Amanda Hodgson ◽  
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Workforce Capacity ◽  
Workforce Strategies

Abstract Background: The early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic brought multiple concurrent threats – high patient volume and acuity and, simultaneously, increased risk to health workers. Healthcare managers and decision-makers needed to identify strategies to mitigate these adverse conditions. This paper reports on the health workforce strategies implemented in relation to past large-scale emergencies (including natural disasters, extreme weather events, and infectious disease outbreaks).Methods: We conducted a rapid scoping review of health workforce responses to natural disasters, extreme weather events, and infectious disease outbreaks reported in the literature between January 2000 and April 2020. The 3582 individual results were screened to include articles which described surge responses to past emergencies for which an evaluative component was included in the report. A total of 37 articles were included in our analysis.Results: The reviewed literature describes challenges related to increased demand for health services and a simultaneous decrease in the availability of the workforce. Many articles also described impacts on infrastructure that hindered emergency response. These challenges aligned well with those faced during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the published literature, the workforce strategies that were described aimed either to increase the numbers of health workers in a given area, to increase the flexibility of the health workforce to meet needs in new ways, or to support and sustain health workers in practice. Workforce responses addressed all types and cadres of health workers and were executed in a wide range of settings. We additionally report on the barriers and facilitators of workforce strategies reported in the literature reviewed. The strategies that were reported in the literature aligned closely with our COVID-specific conceptual framework of workforce capacity levers, suggesting that our framework may have heuristic value across many types of health disasters.Conclusions: This research highlights a key deficiency with the existing literature on workforce responses to emergencies: most papers lack substantive evaluation of the strategies implemented. Future research on health workforce capacity interventions should include robust evaluation of impact and effectiveness.

scholarly journals The role of dedicated biocontainment patient care units in preparing for COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Jade B. Flinn ◽  
Noreen A. Hynes ◽  
Lauren M. Sauer ◽  
Lisa L. Maragakis ◽  
Brian T. Garibaldi
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Preparedness Planning ◽  
Research And Innovation ◽  
Unit Operations ◽  
The Us

Abstract In response to the Ebola outbreak of 2014–2016, the US Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) established 10 regional treatment centers, called biocontainment units (BCUs), to prepare and provide care for patients infected with high-consequence pathogens. Many of these BCUs were among the first units to activate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient care. The activities of the Johns Hopkins BCU helped prepare the Johns Hopkins Health System for COVID-19 in the 3 domains of containment care: (1) preparedness planning, education and training, (2) patient care and unit operations, and (3) research and innovation. Here, we describe the role of the JH BCU in the Hopkins COVID-19 response to illustrate the value of BCUs in the current pandemic and their potential role in preparing healthcare facilities and health systems for future infectious disease threats.

scholarly journals Traits and risk factors of post-disaster infectious disease outbreaks: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina E. C. Charnley ◽  
Ilan Kelman ◽  
Katy A. M. Gaythorpe ◽  
Kris A. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Disaster Risk Reduction ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Disaster Risk ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Post Disaster ◽  
Water Borne

AbstractInfectious disease outbreaks are increasingly recognised as events that exacerbate impacts or prolong recovery following disasters. Yet, our understanding of the frequency, geography, characteristics and risk factors of post-disaster disease outbreaks globally is lacking. This limits the extent to which disease outbreak risks can be prepared for, monitored and responded to following disasters. Here, we conducted a global systematic review of post-disaster outbreaks and found that outbreaks linked to conflicts and hydrological events were most frequently reported, and most often caused by bacterial and water-borne agents. Lack of adequate WASH facilities and poor housing were commonly reported risk factors. Displacement, through infrastructure damage, can lead to risk cascades for disease outbreaks; however, displacement can also be an opportunity to remove people from danger and ultimately protect health. The results shed new light on post-disaster disease outbreaks and their risks. Understanding these risk factors and cascades, could help improve future region-specific disaster risk reduction.

scholarly journals Understanding the risks for post-disaster infectious disease outbreaks: a systematic review protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e039608
Author(s):  
Gina E C Charnley ◽  
Ilan Kelman ◽  
Katy Gaythorpe ◽  
Kris Murray
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Post Disaster

IntroductionDisasters have many forms, including those related to natural hazards and armed conflict. Human-induced global change, such as climate change, may alter hazard parameters of these disasters. These alterations can have serious consequences for vulnerable populations, which often experience post-disaster infectious disease outbreaks, leading to morbidity and mortality. The risks and drivers for these outbreaks and their ability to form cascades are somewhat contested. Despite evidence for post-disaster outbreaks, reviews quantifying them have been on short time scales, specific geographic areas or specific hazards. This review aims to fill this gap and gain a greater understanding of the risk factors involved in these contextual outbreaks on a global level.Methods and analysisUsing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 checklist and Khan’s methodological framework, a systematic search strategy will be created and carried out in August 2020. The strategy will search MEDLINE, Embase and GlobalHealth electronic databases and reference lists of selected literature will also be screened. Eligible studies will include any retrospective cross-sectional, case–control or cohort studies investigating an infectious disease outbreak in a local disaster affected population. Studies will not be excluded based on geographic area or publication date. Excluded papers will include non-English studies, reviews, single case studies and research discussing general risk factors, international refugee camps, public health, mental health and other non-communicable diseases, pathogen genetics or economics. Following selection, data will be extracted into a data charting form, that will be reviewed by other members of the team. The data will then be analysed both numerically and narratively.Ethics and disseminationOnly secondary data will be used and there will be no public or patient involvement; therefore, no ethical approval is needed. Our findings will aim to be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal. The authors intend to use the results to inform future mathematical modelling studies.

Nurses’ preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks: A literature review and narrative synthesis of qualitative evidence

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (7-8) ◽  
pp. e1244-e1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley K. K. Lam ◽  
Enid W. Y. Kwong ◽  
Maria S. Y. Hung ◽  
Samantha M. C. Pang ◽  
Vico C. L. Chiang
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Narrative Synthesis ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Qualitative Evidence

scholarly journals Health workforce strategies in response to major health events: a rapid scoping review with lessons learned for the response to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Coates ◽  
Asli-Oubah Fuad ◽  
Amanda Hodgson ◽  
Ivy Lynn Bourgeault
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Workforce ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Workforce Capacity ◽  
Workforce Strategies

Abstract Background The early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic brought multiple concurrent threats—high patient volume and acuity and, simultaneously, increased risk to health workers. Healthcare managers and decision-makers needed to identify strategies to mitigate these adverse conditions. This paper reports on the health workforce strategies implemented in relation to past large-scale emergencies (including natural disasters, extreme weather events, and infectious disease outbreaks). Methods We conducted a rapid scoping review of health workforce responses to natural disasters, extreme weather events, and infectious disease outbreaks reported in the literature between January 2000 and April 2020. The 3582 individual results were screened to include articles which described surge responses to past emergencies for which an evaluative component was included in the report. A total of 37 articles were included in our analysis. Results The reviewed literature describes challenges related to increased demand for health services and a simultaneous decrease in the availability of the workforce. Many articles also described impacts on infrastructure that hindered emergency response. These challenges aligned well with those faced during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the published literature, the workforce strategies that were described aimed either to increase the numbers of health workers in a given area, to increase the flexibility of the health workforce to meet needs in new ways, or to support and sustain health workers in practice. Workforce responses addressed all types and cadres of health workers and were executed in a wide range of settings. We additionally report on the barriers and facilitators of workforce strategies reported in the literature reviewed. The strategies that were reported in the literature aligned closely with our COVID-specific conceptual framework of workforce capacity levers, suggesting that our framework may have heuristic value across many types of health disasters. Conclusions This research highlights a key deficiency with the existing literature on workforce responses to emergencies: most papers lack substantive evaluation of the strategies implemented. Future research on health workforce capacity interventions should include robust evaluation of impact and effectiveness.

scholarly journals Infectious disease outbreaks in the African region: overview of events reported to the World Health Organization in 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Mboussou ◽  
P. Ndumbi ◽  
R. Ngom ◽  
Z. Kassamali ◽  
O. Ogundiran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
World Health ◽  
African Region ◽  
Regional Office ◽  
Member States ◽  
Infectious Disease Outbreaks ◽  
The World

Abstract The WHO African region is characterised by the largest infectious disease burden in the world. We conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis using records of all infectious disease outbreaks formally reported to the WHO in 2018 by Member States of the African region. We analysed the spatio-temporal distribution, the notification delay as well as the morbidity and mortality associated with these outbreaks. In 2018, 96 new disease outbreaks were reported across 36 of the 47 Member States. The most commonly reported disease outbreak was cholera which accounted for 20.8% (n = 20) of all events, followed by measles (n = 11, 11.5%) and Yellow fever (n = 7, 7.3%). About a quarter of the outbreaks (n = 23) were reported following signals detected through media monitoring conducted at the WHO regional office for Africa. The median delay between the disease onset and WHO notification was 16 days (range: 0–184). A total of 107 167 people were directly affected including 1221 deaths (mean case fatality ratio (CFR): 1.14% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07%–1.20%)). The highest CFR was observed for diseases targeted for eradication or elimination: 3.45% (95% CI 0.89%–10.45%). The African region remains prone to outbreaks of infectious diseases. It is therefore critical that Member States improve their capacities to rapidly detect, report and respond to public health events.

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