The Public Health Consequences of Disasters

by Noji, Eric K.

• ISBN13: 9780195095708
• ISBN10: 0195095707
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-11-14
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Natural disasters have claimed more than 3 million lives worldwide duringthe past 20 years, adversely affected the lives of at least 800 million people,and caused more than $50 billion in property damages. Increasing populationdensities in flood plains, along vulnerable coastal areas, and near dangerousfaults in the earth's crust are likely to make the threat posed by naturaldisasters even worse in the future.This book summarizes the most recent and useful information about the publichealth impact of natural disasters, illustrated by examples from recent researchin the field. The author starts with a section on the concepts and role ofsurveillance and epidemiology, highlighting general environmental health healthconcerns. The other chapters cover discrete types of natural and technologicalhazards, covering their history, origin, nature, observation, prevention, andcontrol. Throughout the book the focus is on the level of epidemiologicknowledge on each aspect of natural disasters. Noji emphasizes the need forbetter epidemiologic awareness as the basis of better understanding and controlof the different types of disasters. Each chapter is based on a variety ofexperiences and literature drawn from both developing and industrializedcountries.

Author Biography

Eric K. Noji, M.D., M.P.H., is Chief of the International Emergency and Refugee Health Unit at the Centers for Disease Control's International Health Program Office. He also serves as Director of the Center for Disease Control's World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response.

Table of Contents

I. General IssuesIntroductionEric K. Noji: 1. Eric K. Noji: The Nature of Disasters2. Eric K. Noji: The Use of Epidemiologic Methods in Disasters3. Scott Weatherall and Eric K. Noji: Surveillance and Epidemiology4. Scott R. Lillibridge: Managing the Environmental Health Aspects of Disasters: Water, Human Excreta and Shelter5. Michael J. Toole: Communicable Diseases and Disease Control after Disasters6. Ellen Gerrity and Brian W. Flynn: Mental Health Consequences of Disasters7. R. Elliott Churchill: Effective Media RelationsII. Geophysical Events8. Eric K. Noji: Earthquakes9. Peter Baxter: VolcanoesIII. Weather-Related Problems10. Josephine Malilay: Tropical Cyclones11. Scott R. Lillibridge: Tornadoes12. Edwin Kilbourne: Heat Waves and Hot Environments13. Edwin Kilbourne: Cold Environments14. Josephine Malilay: FloodsIV. Human-Generated Problems15. Ray Yip: Famine16. Ruth Etzel and Jean G. French: Air Pollution17. Scott R. Lillibridge: Industrial Disasters18. Lee M. Sanderson: Fires19. Robert C. Whitcomb and Michael Sage: Nuclear-Reactor Incidents20. Michael J. Toole: Complex Emergencies