NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
In this report, Nehal Rowhani analyzes the Rajneeshpuram Salmonella outbreak of 1984 in Dalles, Oregon. Although investigations eventually clarified that the event was indeed a bioterrorist attack, it was initially handled as a food-borne outbreak. This mis-identification of the outbreak’s cause and a lack of inter-departmental cooperation significantly delayed effective public health response to the disaster.
Continue reading “Nehal Rowhani’s Salad Bar Salmonella Report “
Jessica Riegert’s analyzes the Rajneeshpuram Salmonella outbreak of 1984 in this case study. Although investigations eventually clarified that the event was indeed a bioterrorist attack, it was initially handled as a food-borne outbreak. This mis-identification of the outbreak’s cause and a lack of inter-departmental cooperation significantly delayed effective public health response to the disaster.
Continue reading “Jessica Riegert’s Salad Bar Salmonella Report”
In this report, Jieun Song analyzes the Rajneeshpuram Salmonella outbreak of 1984 in Dalles, Oregon. Although investigations eventually clarified that the event was indeed a bioterrorist attack, it was initially handled as a food-borne outbreak. This mis-identification of the outbreak’s cause and a lack of inter-departmental cooperation significantly delayed effective public health response to the disaster.
Continue reading “Jieun Song’s Salad Bar Salmonella Report”Patel’s case study reviews the health risks associated with the chemical spill that occured in January 2014 in Charleston, West Virginia, where 10,000 gallons of chemicals were spilled into the Elk River. The spill affected 300,000 residents in the region.
Continue reading “Smeet Patel’s Case Study on 2014 West Virginia Chemical Spill”On November 8, 2018, the Northern Californian town of Paradise experienced the “deadliest and most destructive” wildfire in the state’s history. Kaira Lapurga discusses how the Camp Fire led to efforts aimed at improving emergency response and creating communication strategies for wildfire-related warnings. Additionally, the disaster provided incentive for Butte County and surrounding counties to restructure their current action plans.
Continue reading “Kaira Lapurga’s Case Study on the Camp Fire in Paradise, California”
In this case study, Ruijun Lei discusses the events of and response to the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964. In describing the management of the event, Lei highlights the resilience of local communities and the effective grassroots disaster relief efforts initiated in Alaska following the Earthquake.
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Mass psychogenic illness (MPI), or mass hysteria, describes the phenomenon where a large group of people develop certain irrational thoughts, behaviors, or health conditions collectively. Silvia Penate’s Case Study presents the 2012 mass psychogenic illness of breast cancer in Ethiopia, where 120 women developed symptoms of breast cancer following the death of a woman from breast cancer in her 40s.
Continue reading “Silvia Penate’s Case Study on the 2012 Mass Psychogenic Illness of Breast Cancer in Ethiopia”
In this case study, Wanda Dikiy analyzes the 2001 anthrax event in the United States. After presenting the facts of the case, Dikiy discusses certain validity issues in previous epidemiological studies related to this event. Additionally, Dikiy points out that coordinated emergency management was difficult, as many hospitals lacked an emergency response plan, and legislative efforts in bridging the gap in interstate public health management had just begun around this time.
Continue reading “Wanda Dikiy’s Case Study on the 2001 Anthrax Event”
In this case study, Rowhani analyzes the deadly blizzard in Buffalo, New York in December 2022. The blizzard lasted for 37 hours, causing power outages for over 20,000 homes and facilities across the region. Fatality demographics shows that the disaster disproportionately impacted vulnerable communities.
Continue reading “Nehal Rowhani’s Case Study on the 2022 Buffalo Blizzard”
As the severity of extreme weather events increase worldwide due to climate change, African nations have borne the brunt of their devastating effects. In this case study, Vincent Aina discusses health and agricultural risks that Burkina Faso faces due to natural hazards, especially heatwaves. Aina outlines strategies that will enable effective response and mitigation during a heatwave.
Continue reading “Vincent Aina’s Case Study on Heatwaves in Burkina Faso”