Pandemic

One of the most devastating events for a country is warfare, which has many of the same effects as a natural disaster (damaging infrastructure, disrupting health systems, displacing populations, increasing demand on medical resources, and limiting skilled health professionals)—either through violence or emigration.

The 2013-16 Ebola crisis demonstrated that the world is not prepared to handle a major disease outbreak. To prevent a future outbreak from becoming a costly pandemic, society needs to quickly mobilize funds to assist countries and health agencies.

Natural catastrophes can contribute to outbreaks of disease by damaging infrastructure, displacing people, and hampering the function of public health programs. In this post we will look specifically at one of the most problematic perils in terms of disease spread: flooding.

When we think of disease outbreaks, we often think about dramatic epidemics of novel disease agents (Zika, HIV, Ebola, etc.) sweeping through a population that has no natural defenses against them. However, most outbreaks are of known diseases.

In 2013, avian influenza (H7N9) was first diagnosed in humans. Since then there have been 1,258 cases of H7N9 among humans, mostly in East Asia.

The 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa infected more than 28,000 people, took more than 11,000 lives, and caused a GDP loss of approximately USD 519 million in Sierra Leon, Liberia, and Guinea

By April 13, 2016, the 2014 West Africa Ebola Outbreak had reportedly infected 28,652 people and killed 11,325.

In today's highly interconnected world, infectious diseases can spread rapidly and potentially cause catastrophic losses.

This year's strong El Niño brings an elevated level of excitement to our seasoned AIR meteorologists, flood experts, and thunderstorm gurus whose greatest passions are found in the world of weather phenomena. Perhaps surprising to some, however, is the fact that those inclined to studying infectious diseases have a similar interest in the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

Last month, I participated in a workshop on pandemic financing hosted by the National Academy of Medicine in Washington, D.C., as part of a larger Global Risk Framework Initiative to reduce risk and improve response to epidemics and pandemics.