News – Page 6 – NYU GPH Journal of Public Health Disasters

March 6, 2024April 17, 2024

Impact of COVID-19 on Treatment Availability for Gas Leak Survivors in Bhopal, India

Busy street — *Photo courtesy of Shivam Tiwari.*

In 1984, Bhopal, India, experienced a poisonous gas leak of methyl isocyanate from the Union Carbide pesticide factory, resulting in the death and injuries of thousands. Many survivors still receive medical care from the Bhopal Memorial Hospital Research Center, which, in 2020, became a COVID-only facility in response to the pandemic. This caused a mass disruption of services for the gas leak survivors, who were forced to find other means of care.

March 5, 2024March 27, 2024

The True Impact of Climate Change on Human Lives

Flooding in a residential neighborhood in New Jersey, showing homes partially submerged in flood waters. — New Jersey Shore, NJ. Photo credit: Greg Thompson/USFWS

Climate change seems to be ubiquitous in discourse and general discussions in recent years, with conversations surrounding “increasing frequency and severity” dominating the debate. Hurricanes, tsunamis, severe winter storms, wildfires, heat waves and droughts all impact lives and livelihoods –– but have we truly considered the extent of this influence?

February 29, 2024March 16, 2024

China Shaken: Impacts of the 2023 Earthquake

Building collapse and resulting debris in the wake of an earthquake

Residents living in Gansu –– a province located in a remote, mountainous area in the northwestern region of China –– were startled awake in the middle of the night, when a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck on December 18, 2023.

February 27, 2024March 16, 2024

A Beautiful Visualization of Climate Change’s Disastrous Effects

Seeing the long-term effects of climate change was difficult for individuals living in the 18th and 19th centuries, during the dawn of the first industrial revolution. However, those of us living in the 21st century have first-hand experience with the numerous and devastating effects of the centuries of carbon emissions and pollution from industrial developments. Lori Youmshajekian, Master’s student at NYU studying science, health and environmental reporting, worked with Frederica Fragapane, an independent information designer with projects in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, to visualize climate disasters’ cascading effects.

February 21, 2024March 3, 2024

Gas Station Explosion in Kenya

A recent article by the Washington Post discusses the explosion at an illegal natural gas station in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The explosion occurred on February 1, killing at least three individuals and injuring 280 others. The event reveals the risk of unlicensed gas plants. The cylinders filled with cooking gas caught fire around 11:30 p.m. and quickly spread to factories and homes around the Mradi neighborhood.

February 20, 2024February 27, 2024

WHO Europe Implements New COVID-19 Framework

Image of the WHO headquarters building in Geneva

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.

February 15, 2024February 16, 2024

Incidence of Dengue Fever Rises in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro has declared a public health emergency due to an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever. This viral infection is transmitted from vector to human through the bite of an infected mosquito. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Dengue fever is often asymptomatic; however, possible symptoms of the illness include high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and a rash. Symptoms only last a week, with some cases developing a more chronic form and the patients requiring further medical care.

February 12, 2024February 16, 2024

Death and Destructions from Wildfires in Chile

Wildfire tearing through trees and bushes.

On February 2, 2024, wildfires raged through the central Chilean city of Viña del Mar, claiming at least 112 lives and leaving 372 people unaccounted for. The loss of life and destruction that resulted was second only to the devastation that ensued in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake in the region, which took the life of 400 individuals.

February 8, 2024February 21, 2024

Mental Health Services Lacking in a Flooded Vale do Taquari, Brazil

Taquari river from Morro do Gaucho mountain in Arroio do Meio, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The flood-prone region of Vale do Taquari, Brazil experienced an exceptional El Nino event towards the end of 2023, leading to 52 deaths and impacting the lives of the 400,000 people of the region. Given Vale do Taquari’s already heightened suicide rate, it is crucial to address the mental health effects of this and other climate-related disasters.

February 7, 2024February 16, 2024

Iceland Prepares for Increased Volcanic Activity

Exploding volcano in Iceland — *Photo courtesy of Gylfi Gylfason.*

Volcanoes near Iceland’s capital of Reykjavik are now active after being dormant for nearly 800 years. As a response, Icelanders are working night and day to build dykes the size of three-story buildings to protect crucial infrastructure from the flow of lava. Reykjavik has a population of 30,000, accounting for approximately 8% of Iceland’s total population and is home to a vital power plant. Experts warn that the six volcanic systems in Iceland will be active for up to three centuries.