NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters
A student-led journal driven by the latest research in public health disaster preparedness and management.
A JAMA Network Open study published this February predicts that the United States will face a hospital bed shortage as soon as 2032. The study, conducted by University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) researchers, raises concerns about the American healthcare system’s ability to respond to and treat patients during natural disasters.
Continue reading “U.S. Faces Hospital Bed Shortage by 2032, Jeopardizing Disasters Preparedness”
One on top of the other, Cuba has been burdened with multiple emergencies. Last November, the citizens of Cuba faced “two hurricanes (Oscar, Category 1, and Rafael, Category 3) and two earthquakes (magnitudes 5.9 and 6.8)” that led to flooding disasters and the disruption of healthcare and food/water services. The country has been in a continuous fight with the Dengue and Oropouche epidemics, now being exacerbated by the recent natural disasters. The crises that Cuba is facing are increasing the gap between socioeconomic levels, further aggravating Cuba’s socioeconomic crisis.
Continue reading “Cuba’s Perfect Storm: The Burden of a Socioeconomic Crisis on Health”
Georgia has joined 45 countries and one territory in achieving a malaria-free status. This significant milestone comes after a nearly hundred-year struggle of fighting the disease, and thousands of years suffering from it. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General, congratulated the country on the accomplishment, as this is one of the world’s top killers. This represents a huge achievement, bringing Europe even closer to certification as the only malaria-free region in the world.
Continue reading “Georgia’s Malaria-Free Milestone”
In October 2024, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) approved “The Policy to Strengthen Equity-Oriented Health Sector Action on Climate Change and Health.” The agenda was finalized at the 61st Directing Council Conference, which met in Washington, DC. The United State’s subsequent withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) threatens PAHO’s financial ability to implement its new climate policy.Â
Continue reading “U.S.’s WHO Withdrawal Jeopardizes 2025 PAHO Climate Change Agenda “
A recent outbreak of measles has struck West Texas, with 124 cases primarily in children and teens. Texas health officials say that within the infected, people are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. One child, a school-age girl, has died since the outbreak, the first U.S. measles death since 2015. The cases were limited to a small Mennonite community within a highly rural area where children are primarily homeschooled or attend small private schools. The state is attempting to work with local health officials to boost vaccination and screening efforts while also educating school officials on identifying measles symptoms.Â
Continue reading “The Current Rise of Measles in the U.S.”
The H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu, is disrupting the dairy industry and prompting concerns about a potential outbreak. While the virus has primarily affected poultry in the past, its recent spread to cattle and documented cases in humans signal a growing epidemiological challenge. As for now, the bird flu has caught the public eye through its impact on egg prices, sensationalized by potential correlations to recent layoffs in public health agencies and promises by the current administration under President Donald Trump.
Continue reading “Bird Flu Hits Dairy Industry, Sounds Alarms in Public Health”
Over 900 people fell ill from mystery “Disease X” between October and December 2024 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This unknown virus circulated throughout the country, specifically in rural regions, putting many people without easy access to healthcare facilities at risk. The circulation of this disease resulted in 48 deaths, underscoring the urge to enhance primary healthcare (PHC).
Continue reading “Democratic Republic of Congo Hit with ‘Disease X’”
Flood risk communication is a critical aspect of urban planning, but recent research from North Carolina State University found a startling discovery dubbed the “safe development paradox.” This phenomenon highlights a fundamental flaw in how we interpret floodplain maps, which categorize areas as either “high-risk” or “low-risk” based solely on their likelihood of flooding. While it may seem straightforward, this binary classification can lead to dangerous misconceptions, particularly for regions that fall just outside the designated high-risk zones.
Continue reading “Recent Study Reconsiders Flood Risk Communication”
With the start of Black History Month, the nation is honoring the achievements of Black individuals—such as artists, activists, scientists, politicians, and everyday community leaders. With such celebration, it’s crucial to acknowledge the ongoing struggles that Black people face, including systemic racism in healthcare and disaster management. Within healthcare, racial discrimination amounts to gaps in receiving adequate resources and care in communities of color. Public health could be the bridge between health and social justice, so how is racism manifesting within health systems?
Continue reading “Black History Month: A Look Into Racism in Healthcare”
Following the recent wave of employee layoffs, President Donald Trump and his administration continue their onslaught against the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). The layoffs target probationary employees, specifically those who had recently transitioned into their role or have been with the organization for less than two years.
Continue reading “NIH Funding in Potential Peril”