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Objective To assess global, regional and national trends in the impact of floods from 1990 to 2022 and determine factors influencing flood-related deaths. Methods We used data on flood disasters from the International Disaster Database for 1990--2022 from 168 countries. We calculated the annual percentage change to estimate trends in the rates of people affected and killed by floods by study period, World Health Organization (WHO) region, country income level and flood type. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the factors associated with death from floods. Findings From 1990 to 2022, 4713 floods were recorded in 168 countries, which affected > 3.2 billion people, caused 218 353 deaths and were responsible for more than 1.3 trillion United States dollars of economic losses. The WHO Western Pacific Region had the most people affected by floods (> 2.0 billion), accounting for 63.19% (2 024 599 380/3 203 944 965) of all affected populations. The South-East Asia Region had the most deaths (71 713, 32.84%). The African and Eastern Mediterranean Regions had the highest number of people affected and killed by floods per 100 000 population in 2022. The odds of floods causing more than 50 deaths were significantly higher in low-income countries (adjusted odds ratio: 14.34; 95% confidence interval: 7.46 to 30.04) compared with high-income countries. Numbers of people affected and mortality due to floods declined over time. Conclusion Despite the decreases in populations affected and deaths, floods still have a serious impact on people and economies globally, particularly in lower-income countries. Action is needed to improve disaster risk management and flood mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses some strategies on how to address the impacts of climate change on health in urban areas. Topics mentioned include the need of community engagement in informal settlements, the importance of government investment, and the key role of socioeconomic equity in preventing climate risks.

The article explores the impact of tropical cyclones on food security, health and biodiversity. Topics discussed are agricultural production capacity reduction and infertility of agricultural land, health systems and services disruptions, consequences for nutrition and ecosystems, and priority actions under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction that complement the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The article discusses efforts to strengthen health systems to deliver emergency care are intensifying against the backdrop of increasing humanitarian crises. Topics include the emergency care given during earthquakes in the western province of Herat, Afghanistan on October 7, 2023, the launch of an initiative focused on improving the capacity of health-care professionals in Somalia, and the training of over 3000 health-care workers in basic emergency care in Ethiopia.

This section offers news briefs on public health as of November 2023. Israel has retaliated to the attack by the militant group Hamas on the Gaza Strip in the occupied Palestinian territory and access for emergency medical teams was hampered by infrastructure damage. Rescue operations are in progress following a 6.3 magnitude that struck the province of Herat, Afghanistan. The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This section offers public health-related news briefs as of December 1, 2022. An outbreak of Sudan virus has spread in Uganda, with 157 infections and 50 deaths reported as of November 7, 2022. A plan to accelerate research on a vaccine for Sudan virus is being outlined by global health agencies. A new assessment was released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the number of reported disease outbreaks and climate-related health emergencies.

This section offers news briefs related to public health as of October 2023. Topics include a storm system in the central and eastern Mediterranean which led to devastating floods and massive loss of life in Libya, an earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8, and a Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) announced by World Health Organization (WHO) and the G20 India Presidency.

The article offers global public health news briefs as of September 2021. The World Health Organization (WHO) decided to stay in Afghanistan to deliver critical health services amidst the growing insecurity and violence in the country. Also cited are the confirmed Marburg virus infection in Guinea, and the deployment of experts from Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to assess the damage of the strong earthquake that hit Haiti.

The article offers public health news briefs. A cholera vaccination campaign was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund in the Syrian Arab Republic. Also cited are the epidemiological study by public health officials of Equatorial Guinea on the source of the Marburg virus disease outbreak and the policy launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent sexual misconduct.

This section offers news briefs on public health. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake with multiple aftershocks struck south-east Turkiye that led to the death of some 34,000 people. A humanitarian response was launched by the World Health Organization and other United Nations partner at the request of the Turkish government. The first outbreak of Marburg virus diseases in Equatorial Guinea was confirmed in the country's western Kie Ntem Province.

The article focuses on sponge cities as nature-based solutions for healthier populations, disaster risk reduction and enhancing the absorbency of urban environments to address the link between climate change, flooding, sanitation and health. It points out flood-related infrastructure failures that constitute public health emergencies. It highlights the introduction of green infrastructure elements into the fabric of cities such as green corridor and climate-resilient sanitation systems.

This section offers world news briefs on public health as of November 2022. An outbreak of Sudan virus disease has been declared by health authorities in Uganda following laboratory confirmation of a patient from a village in the Mubende district. Haiti and Syria have declared outbreaks of cholera following confirmation of cases. An appeal was issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) to fund its work in response to the flood-related humanitarian crisis in Pakistan.

Objective To assess the performance of an early warning, alert and response system (EWARS) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) -- EWARS in a Box -- that was used to detect and control disease outbreaks after Cyclone Winston caused destruction in Fiji on 20 February 2016. Methods Immediately after the cyclone, Fiji's Ministry of Health and Medical Services, supported by WHO, started to implement EWARS in a Box, which is a smartphone-based, automated, early warning surveillance system for rapid deployment during health emergencies. Both indicator-based and event-based surveillance were employed. The performance of the system between 7 March and 29 May 2016 was evaluated. Users' experience with the system was assessed in interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire and by a cross-sectional survey. The system's performance was assessed using data from the EWARS database. Findings Indicator-based surveillance recorded 34 113 cases of the nine syndromes under surveillance among 326 861 consultations. Three confirmed outbreaks were detected, and no large outbreak was missed. Users were satisfied with the performance of EWARS and judged it useful for timely monitoring of disease trends and outbreak detection. The system was simple, stable and flexible and could be rapidly deployed during a health emergency. The automated collation, analysis and dissemination of data reduced the burden on surveillance teams, saved human resources, minimized human error and ensured teams could focus on public health responses. Conclusion In Fiji, EWARS in a Box was effective in strengthening disease surveillance during a national emergency and was well regarded by users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section offers public health-related world news briefs as of October 1, 2022. A state of emergency was declared in Pakistan on August 25, 2022 due to flooding from severe monsoon rains and heavy glacial runoff. The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its first guideline for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has declared a resurgence of Ebola on August 22, 2022.

The article discusses standardized protocols, developed by the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network, to facilitate epidemiological studies of populations that have been, or may be in the future, exposed to volcanic ash and gases. Topics covered include the consequences of volcanic eruptions for human health, the challenge to identifying and quantifying health impacts from volcanic eruptions, and the various stages of the protocol development.

Kidney disease has been described as the most neglected chronic disease. Reliable estimates of the global burden of kidney disease require more population-based studies, but specific risks occur across the socioeconomic spectrum from poverty to affluence, from malnutrition to obesity, in agrarian to post-industrial settings, and along the life course from newborns to older people. A range of communicable and noncommunicable diseases result in renal complications and many people who have kidney disease lack access to care. The causes, consequences and costs of kidney diseases have implications for public health policy in all countries. The risks of kidney disease are also influenced by ethnicity, gender, location and lifestyle. Increasing economic and health disparities, migration, demographic transition, unsafe working conditions and environmental threats, natural disasters and pollution may thwart attempts to reduce the morbidity and mortality from kidney disease. A multisectoral approach is needed to tackle the global burden of kidney disease. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) emphasize the importance of a multisectoral approach to health. We map the actions towards achieving all of the SDGs that have the potential to improve understanding, measurement, prevention and treatment of kidney disease in all age groups. These actions can also foster treatment innovations and reduce the burden of such disease in future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem Seven months after the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, and as relief efforts were scaling down, health authorities faced ongoing challenges in health-service provision and disease surveillance reporting. Approach In January 2016, the World Health Organization recruited and trained 12 Nepalese medical doctors to provide technical assistance to the health authorities in the most affected districts by the earthquake. These emergency support officers monitored the recovery of health services and reconstruction of health facilities, monitored stocks of essential medicines, facilitated disease surveillance reporting to the health ministry and assisted in outbreak investigations. Local setting In December 2015 the people most affected by the earthquake were still living in temporary shelters, provision of health services was limited and only five out of 14 earthquake-affected districts were reporting surveillance data to the health ministry. Relevant changes From mid-2016, health facilities were gradually able to provide the same level of services as in unaffected areas, including paediatric and adolescent services, follow-up of tuberculosis patients, management of respiratory infections and first aid. The number of districts reporting surveillance data to the health ministry increased to 13 out of 14. The proportion of health facilities reporting medicine stock-outs decreased over 2016. Verifying rumours of disease outbreaks with field-level evidence, and early detection and containment of outbreaks, allowed district health authorities to focus on recovery and reconstruction. Lessons learnt Local medical doctors with suitable experience and training can augment the disaster recovery efforts of health authorities and alleviate their burden of work in managing public health challenges during the recovery phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To estimate the prevalence of childhood wasting and to investigate the effects of drought and conflict on wasting in crisis-affected areas within Ethiopia. Methods We searched the Complex Emergency Database for nutrition surveys carried out in Ethiopia over the period 2000-2013. We extracted data on the prevalence of wasting (weight-for-height z-scores below -2) among children aged 6-59 months for areas of Ethiopia that had sufficient data available. Data on any conflict events (irrespective of magnitude or impact) and episodes of seasonal drought affecting the survey areas were extracted from publicly available data sources. Random-effects Bayesian meta-analysis was used to synthesize the evidence from 231 small-scale surveys. Findings From the total sample of 175 607 children analysed, the pooled number of children wasted was 21 709. The posterior median prevalence of wasting was 11.0% (95% credible interval, CrI: 10.3-11.7) over the 14-year period. Compared with areas unaffected by drought, the estimated prevalence of wasting was higher in areas affected by moderate levels of drought (posterior odds ratio, OR: 1.34; 95% CrI: 1.05-1.72) but similar in severe drought-affected areas (OR: 0.96; 95% CrI: 0.68-1.35). Although the pooled prevalence of wasting was higher in conflict-affected than unaffected areas, the difference was not plausible (OR: 1.02; 95% CrI: 0.82-1.26). Conclusion Despite an overall declining trend, a wasting problem persists among children in Ethiopia. Conflict events did not have a major impact on childhood wasting. Nutrition interventions should go beyond severe drought-prone areas to incorporate areas where moderate droughts occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem In 2010, Haiti sustained a devastating earthquake that crippled the health-care infrastructure in the capital city, Port-au-Prince, and left 1.5 million people homeless. Subsequently, there was an increase in reported tuberculosis in the affected population. Approach We conducted active tuberculosis case finding in a camp for internally displaced persons and a nearby slum. Community health workers screened for tuberculosis at the household level. People with persistent cough were referred to a physician. The National Tuberculosis Program continued its national tuberculosis reporting system. Local setting Even before the earthquake, Haiti had the highest tuberculosis incidence in the Americas. About half of the tuberculosis cases occur in the Port-au-Prince region. Relevant changes The number of reported tuberculosis cases in Haiti has increased after the earthquake, but data are too limited to determine if this is due to an increase in tuberculosis burden or to improved case detection. Compared to previous national estimates (230 per 100000 population), undiagnosed tuberculosis was threefold higher in a camp for internally displaced persons (693 per 100000) and fivefold higher in an urban slum (1165 per 100000). With funding from the World Health Organization (WHO), active case finding is now being done systematically in slums and camps. Lessons learnt Household-level screening for prolonged cough was effective in identifying patients with active tuberculosis in this study. Without accurate data, early detection of rising tuberculosis rates is challenging; data collection should be incorporated into pragmatic disease response programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem On 6 February 2013, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake generated a tsunami that struck the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands, killing 10 people and displacing over 4700. Approach A post-disaster assessment of the risk of epidemic disease transmission recommended the implementation of an early warning alert and response network (EWARN) to rapidly detect, assess and respond to potential outbreaks in the aftermath of the tsunami. Local setting Almost 40% of the Santa Cruz Islands’ population were displaced by the disaster, and living in cramped temporary camps with poor or absent sanitation facilities and insufficient access to clean water. There was no early warning disease surveillance system. Relevant changes By 25 February, an EWARN was operational in five health facilities that served 90% of the displaced population. Eight priority diseases or syndromes were reported weekly; unexpected health events were reported immediately. Between 25 February and 19 May, 1177 target diseases or syndrome cases were reported. Seven alerts were investigated. No sustained transmission or epidemics were identified. Reporting compliance was 85%. The EWARN was then transitioned to the routine four-syndrome early warning disease surveillance system. Lesson learnt It was necessary to conduct a detailed assessment to evaluate the risk and potential impact of serious infectious disease outbreaks, to assess whether and how enhanced early warning disease surveillance should be implemented. Local capacities and available resources should be considered in planning EWARN implementation. An EWARN can be an opportunity to establish or strengthen early warning disease surveillance capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article mentions the eruption of the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha'apai volcano in Tonga on January 15, 2022 which caused a tsunami that hit coastal areas.

The article provides updates on public health issues around the world as of January 2020. Topics covered include declaration of measles outbreak and state of emergency by the Samoa Ministry of Health, violence against people working on the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that disrupted efforts to contain the epidemic, and a five-year regional action plan by the World Health Organization to deal with human immunodeficiency virus drug resistance in Africa.

The article offers updates on public health issues as of December 2019. Topics include delivery of supplies to populations affected by severe flooding across the African and the Eastern Mediterranean Region, effort of the World Health Organization to map areas of increased cholera risk in Sudan to prevent the spread of cholera, and the meeting of the WHO Digital Health Technical Advisory Group in Switzerland to form a strategy to accelerate the use of digital technologies in public health.

The article offers world public health news briefs as of October 2019. The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) has sent emergency response teams in northern Bahamas that was hit by hurricane Dorian. The Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has claimed 2064 lives since its start in August 2018. The WHO has sent medicines and medical supplies to support Libya's overburdened health system due to the ongoing conflict there.

The article provides updates on issues related to public health around the world as of May 2019. Topics covered include an emergency cholera vaccination campaign in Mozambique in response to the health emergency caused by Cyclone Idai on April 10, 2019, the number of Ebola virus disease cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as of April 9, 2019, and the first round of a national polio immunization campaign in Afghanistan on April 1, 2019.

This section offers news briefs on public health around the world as of October 2017. Officials from more than 140 countries attended the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury convened by United Nations Environmentin Geneva. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have introduced an initiative to promote early childhood development. The WHO has released a report on efforts to control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The article discusses the provision of sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent individuals in Nepal as of February 2017. According to nongovernmental group YUWA head Amit Timilsina, topics about sexual and reproductive health are considered taboo in the country's homes and schools. Also cited are the percentage of women in Nepal who became pregnant before the age of 18 and the launching of the National Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme in the country.

The authors discuss the recovery of Japanese citizens after the tsunami that hit the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant which led hydrogen explosions and radiation leaks. The authors agree that the nuclear disaster had multifaceted effects as to study findings about cancer, mental and physical risks due to radiation exposure. Also discussed are the importance of providing lifestyle options for people in Fukushima instead of strict guidelines and management of risk-benefit balance on health.

The article reports that the Indonesian government continues to provide assistance to people affected by the December 22, 2018 tsunami along the Sunda Strait and the provinces of Banten and Lampung.

The article reports on the collaboration between the World Health Organization and the Ministry of Health and other affiliates in Indonesia to offer support after the earthquake and tsunami that happened in September 2018.

A photograph of a family affected by floods in the Sindh province of Pakistan in 2010 is presented.

The article presents the cover photo of a boy dragging his possessions through the flooded streets of Manila, Philippines in 2009, and offers information on floods including its being a form of extreme weather event associated with global warming, and its contamination of freshwater supplies.

The article reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating the response to the health emergency with the government of Nepal after the country was hit by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25, 2015. Topics covered include the call to provide health-care workers via the United Nations Health Cluster and WHO's foreign medical team initiative.

The article discusses the response efforts of the World Health Organization (WHO) office for Western Pacific Region, in coordination with Vanatu's Ministry of Health and other humanitarian partners, to provide health support after the devastation caused by cyclone Pam on Vanatu on March 13-14, 2015.