NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
On August 30, Japan was struck by Typhoon Shanshan, prompting emergency warnings across the nation. Japanese authorities reported that over one million individuals were advised to evacuate due to extensive damage caused by the typhoon. Japan was hit with record-breaking rainfall and flooding, which particularly damaged structures along the southern coastline.
Continue reading “Typhoon Shanshan Hits Japan, Millions Forced to Evacuate”
On the morning of Friday, July 19th, CrowdStrike customers experienced a major digital blackout as outages hit banks, hospitals, airports, and other services worldwide. Businesses scrambled to mitigate the effects of the sudden disruption, implement plans, rely on backup systems, and maintain operations to provide customer service.
Continue reading “Tech Outage Causes Worldwide Disruptions”
The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed its latest World Health Statistics through May 2024, showing that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a reversal in the upward trend in life expectancy. The organization’s data shows that the pandemic “wiped out nearly a decade of progress in improving life expectancy” within only two years—from 2019 to 2021. Global life expectancy is now at 71.4 years, a decrease of 1.8 years since the start of the pandemic.
Continue reading “WHO Report Reveals Life Expectancy Decreases Since COVID-19 Pandemic”
Earlier this year, federal health officials expressed concern about an increase in the number of individuals contracting dengue in 2024. Through just the first half of 2024, countries in the Americas reported more than twice the number of cases compared to the entirety of 2023. So far, over 10 million cases have been reported this year, with significant outbreaks in Brazil and Argentina. While the United States has experienced minimal cases, Puerto Rico recently declared a public health emergency following a reported 1,500 cases through March 2024.
Continue reading “Dengue Fever Cases Spike in the Americas”
Exposure to arsenic, a naturally occurring element, is linked to various adverse health effects, including many forms of cancer. People are commonly exposed to arsenic through contaminated food and water, which makes it a grave public health concern.
Continue reading “Arsenic Contamination of Food and Water Growing Public Health Concern”
In recent weeks, public health officials have expressed concern about the rise of avian flu in the United States, stating that at least three farm workers have been infected since March. The three individuals had direct exposure to dairy cows. Health experts have indicated that farm workers are at the highest risk, adding that this is a low hazard for the general public.
Continue reading “Farmers at Risk for Bird Flu in the United States”
UNICEF recently published a report with alarming findings, stating that there has been a dramatic increase in civilian casualties caused by the use of landmines. UNICEF has stated that this is partially due to escalating conflicts in Myanmar.
Continue reading “Increase in Landmine Usage in Myanmar Amidst Civil War”
On March 2nd, a blizzard with wind gusts up to 190 miles per hour hit the Sierra Nevada region, causing heavy snowfall around Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain. Blizzard warnings were issued throughout the area and led to major roads to be shut down and stay-at-home orders to be placed.
Continue reading “Individuals Urged to Stay Home as Blizzard Hit Nevada and California Regions”
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented new policies aimed at limiting damages caused by disasters originating from chemical facilities. The new EPA rules directly address potential threats to society while mitigating the effects of such disasters. The new policies will be implemented in over 12,000 chemical plants and other industrial sites nationwide.
Continue reading “EPA Implements New Regulations to Combat Effects of Climate Change”
While COVID-19 is no longer classified as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), it continues to impact global health substantially. To address these effects, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) European division is launching a transition plan to move forward following the pandemic. The framework encompasses a five-year plan that aims to strengthen emergency preparedness, response resilience, and overall safety precautions.
Continue reading “WHO Europe Implements New COVID-19 Framework”