Jamie Epstein – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

November 7, 2024November 7, 2024

The Growing Global Threat of Antibiotic Resistance

In September 2024, 193 delegations gathered during the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand the effects of treatments, such as antibiotics. This makes common infections more difficult to treat, potentially reversing decades of medical advancements. The UN emphasized that without immediate action, AMR could cause millions of additional deaths each year, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries. The high-level meeting on AMR called for coordinated global efforts to reduce the projected 10 million annual deaths by 2050 due to drug-resistant infections.

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024

Deshara Thomas’ Case Study on the 2016 Pulse Nightclub Shooting

The 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, led to the death of 49 people and 53 wounded. The attack at Pulse, an LGBTQ+ nightclub, remains one of the deadliest terrorist attacks, mass shootings, and hate crimes in U.S. history.

November 4, 2024November 4, 2024

Lexie Zinselmeier’s Case Study on the Haiti Earthquake

On January 12, 2010, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. More than 220,000 people died, 300,000 were injured, and 1.5 were left displaced or homeless. The quake was one of the deadliest natural disasters in the 21st century.

October 31, 2024October 31, 2024

Olivia Morris’ Case Study on Hurricane Ida in New York City

On September 1, 2021, remnants of Hurricane Ida brought record-breaking landfall to New York City. The intense rain led to severe flooding, resulting in 14 deaths and over 30,000 damaged structures. Most of the casualties were Asian immigrants living in unregulated basement apartments.

October 28, 2024October 29, 2024

Samantha Whitegeese’s Case Study on 1993 Four Corners Hantavirus Outbreak

In 1993, the Southwestern region of the Four Corners, where the borders of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet, had nearly 30 cases of acute hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and 16 deaths from Sin Nombre Virus (SNV), caused by deer mice. As the region overlaps with the Navajo Nation, the Navajo people faced public shame for the rise in the disease, and were blamed for its consequences.

October 24, 2024October 24, 2024

Ameisha O’Connor’s Case Study on Childhood Cancer in New Jersey

In 1995, the New Jersey Department of Health and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry began an investigation into the growing concerns about elevated rates of childhood cancer in the New Jersey region. The investigation was a response to resident concerns about water environmental pollution. The research focused on industrial sites in the area that were ultimately found responsible for significant contamination.

October 24, 2024October 24, 2024

Catherine Reyes’ Case Study on Cyclone Bhola in East Pakistan

On November 12, 1970, Cyclone Bholas struck East Pakistan, which is now Bangladesh. The disaster resulted in an estimated 500,000 deaths and caused tremendous impacts on Pakistan’s social systems, international governance, and territorial borders.

October 23, 2024October 23, 2024

Jose Flores Hernandez’s Case Study on Extreme Heat

Experts estimate that by 2100, extreme heat will make parts of Asia and Africa uninhabitable. Climate change will continue exacerbating the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, including droughts, flooding, scorching heat, and more, impacting vulnerable communities globally.

October 22, 2024October 23, 2024

Luis Gomez-Escobar’s Case Study on Vector-Borne Disease in Kenya

Spraying bacteria substance to kill mosquito larvae in Kenya

In 2021 and 2022, Kenya faced multiple outbreaks of vector-borne diseases, including Dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to high rates of infectious disease transmission. The emergence and re-emergence of viral infections in Kenya emphasizes the need to build the capacity of the country’s healthcare system.

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024

Felipe Garcia’s Case Study on Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The World Health Organization declared a mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in the summer of 2024. Over 15,000 cases and 550 deaths were reported in the DRC alone, leading WHO to use the emergency declaration.