Samantha Whitegeese’s Case Study on 1993 Four Corners Hantavirus Outbreak

Deer mice.

In 1993, the Southwestern region of the Four Corners, where the borders of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet, had nearly 30 cases of acute hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and 16 deaths from Sin Nombre Virus (SNV), caused by deer mice. As the region overlaps with the Navajo Nation, the Navajo people faced public shame for the rise in the disease, and were blamed for its consequences. 

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Study Highlights Access to Information and the Impact on Behaviors During COVID-19

Workers shift protective gear.

A recent study published in the Journal of Emergency Management and Disaster Communication studied the impact of access to information regarding emergency behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examined disease knowledge, dynamic news, government measures, and media in the context of how guidelines and information were communicated to the general public. The researchers analyzed preventative behaviors and their correlation with perceived risk among the general public, highlighting the profound effects media, misinformation, and public perception have on adhering to guidelines. The study notes that past research excluded the effects of information access during large-scale health crises, instead focusing on common infectious diseases.

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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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Felipe Garcia’s Case Study on Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Scientists creating mpox vaccine

The World Health Organization declared a mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring countries a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in the summer of 2024. Over 15,000 cases and 550 deaths were reported in the DRC alone, leading WHO to use the emergency declaration.

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Manasi Narayan’s Case Study on the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Children in a Syrian refugee camp.

The Syrian refugee crisis has lasted over a decade, forcing the displacement of over 7 million people. In 2011, teenagers were arrested for anti-government graffiti, which led to public demonstrations that grew into a civil war. The refugee crisis that followed has forced millions to flee, killed thousands of children, and has left 70% of the Syrian population in dire need of humanitarian assistance. 

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560,000 Children Vaccinated Against Polio in Gaza

Child in Gaza.

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.

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Mosquito-Borne Virus, EEE, Health Raising Concerns in Northeast

Mosquito on a branch.

There have been growing concerns among health experts about the recent surge in Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) cases in the Northeast, a rare mosquito-borne virus with severe health risks. Health officials have reported infections in New York, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts, and one death in New Hampshire, prompting warnings and curfews in certain areas.

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Luis Guillermo Gómez Escobar’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) in Kenya

Children in Kenya.

In this THIRA, Escobar assesses the natural, technological, and human-caused threats and hazards in Kenya. The natural threats include droughts, floods, and disease outbreaks. Prominent technological hazards include cybersecurity incidents, road accidents, and fires. Human-related hazards and threats include terrorism and political tension.

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