NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
With the mpox outbreak continuing to affect the lives of millions living in African countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has activated its new Global Health Emergency Corp, or GHEC, for the first time to offer support to local healthcare and emergency services with the goal of containing and stemming the spread of the disease.
Continue reading “WHO Activates the Global Health Emergency Corp to Respond to Africa’s Mpox Outbreak”
A historic storm in Central Europe brought devastating floods to many countries, including Poland, Hungary, Austria, Czechia, Hungary, and Romania. Twenty-seven were killed, and several more sustained injuries and mental health impacts. Vienna, Austria, however, experienced only mild impacts thanks to its extensive floodwater control system, one that can serve as a model for other cities around the world.
Continue reading “Vienna’s Advanced Flood Preparedness Saved Many Lives During Storm Boris”
2024 has proven to be a historic hurricane season, with Hurricane Milton being the fifth strongest hurricane in the Atlantic and producing a record-breaking 126 tornado warnings for the state of Florida. Subsequently, Hurricane Helene made news around the world as the deadliest and costliest hurricane to hit the U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Helene caused historic damage to parts of the southeastern U.S., especially western North Carolina, as news of the catastrophic flooding continues to spread around the globe. Experts and observers are wondering how Helene was able to cause such a high level of flooding so far from where it made landfall in Florida.
Continue reading “Hurricane Helene and Milton’s Destructive Paths”
When Gaza reported its first case of polio in a quarter century in late August, there was a swift effort taken by health officials to provide polio vaccines to the region and prevent further spread. The effort was led by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a group of national governments and partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance. So far, the effort has been successful, with nearly 560,000 children vaccinated.
Continue reading “560,000 Children Vaccinated Against Polio in Gaza”
An extreme flooding event in Detroit in 2014 exposed the outdated stormwater infrastructure in much of the United States. Since the event, various studies have shown that instead of mitigating flooding and its costly consequences, the antiquated sewer systems are actually worsening flooding events.
Continue reading “Research Finds Stormwater System Ineffective, Even Deadly”
The UK-led initiative, “Smart’ Health Care Facilities in the Caribbean Project,” aiming to improve critical healthcare facilities’ infrastructure and environmental impact in the Caribbean, has proven to be a resounding success in Jamaica as Category 4 Hurricane Beryl caused extensive damage to the island.
Continue reading “Jamaica’s ‘Smart Health Centers’ Withstand Category 4 Beryl”
A life-saving HIV preventative drug with nearly 100% efficacy passed its latest round of trials, providing hope to millions worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, which has one of the highest HIV rates in the world. Although advocates celebrate the arrival of this new drug, many are skeptical that the twice-a-year injection will be made affordable to people in the low-income countries that need it most.
Continue reading “New Study Reveals HIV Preventative Drug With 99% Efficacy”
After over a decade of ignored warnings, a catastrophic landslide swept away much of the village of Mundakkai, India, in late July. Around 200 people were killed, with many more missing. As residents begin the recovery process, government officials seek to identify a cause for the extent of the disaster, with much evidence pointing to one culprit: overdevelopment.
Continue reading “Southwest India Landslide Kills Hundreds After Years of Ignored Warnings”
Heatwave frequency and intensity are increasing in India, with the current 2024 heatwave bringing temperatures of 126F (52C). Extreme heat has pushed many into “heat poverty,” a now-common term in India that describes the significant costs of making life safe and bearable during high temperatures. Impoverished citizens have been forced to purchase life-saving air conditioning units with sizable loans, which they are unsure of when or how they can pay back. With the effects of climate change increasing the heat annually, heat poverty is expected to get worse.
Continue reading “‘Heat Poverty’ Increasing in India Amidst Record-Breaking Temperatures”