Hurricane Helene and Milton’s Destructive Paths

Hurricane Helen destruction.

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.

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Tropical Cyclones Indirectly Trigger Deaths for Years, Study Says

Tropical Cyclone.

Tropical cyclones indirectly cause long-term effects on mortality for years beyond the initial event, according to a new study published in the journal Nature. The study, published on October 2, is particularly relevant in the wake of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, which hit the Southeastern U.S. in September and October, respectively. 

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Hurricane Milton: A Public Health Emergency

Hurricane Milton

On October 8, 2024, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Beccerra, declared a public health emergency in Florida as Hurricane Milton reached the coast. Hurricane Milton is said to be the strongest hurricane since Hurricane Rita in 2005 and the strongest hurricane to reach Tampa in the last 100 years, with winds reaching 180mph. The destruction caused 24 deaths and left millions without power. Thankfully, the declaration of a public health emergency reduced the potential destruction Milton could have left in its path. 

So, what is the declaration of a public health emergency, and how does it benefit the public?  

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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.

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Climate Change Drives Unparalleled Superfloods in Europe

Floods in Europe

In early September, disastrous floods in Europe killed 24 and affected millions, causing economic damage worth $2 to 3 billion. The unparalleled storm, known as Storm Boris, brought five times the monthly average rainfall onto Central European countries, leading to four missing people and the isolation of several villages. The impacts of climate change exacerbated the intensity of the storm, providing a bleak glimpse of its effects on the planet’s fastest-warming continent. 

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