Abstract
Better epidemiologic knowledge of the mechanisms of death and of the types of injuries and illnesses caused by disasters is clearly essential to determining the appropriate, relief medications, supplies, equipment, and personnel needed to effectively respond to such emergencies. The overall objective of disaster epidemiology is to measure scientifically and describe the health effects of disasters and the factors contributing to these effects. The results of such investigations allow disaster epidemiologists to assess the needs of disaster-affected populations, efficiently match resources to needs, prevent further adverse health effects, evaluate relief effectiveness, and plan for future disasters.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
National Research Council:Confronting Natural Disasters: An International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction, Washington, D. C., 1987, National Academy Press, pp. 1–67.
Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance:Disaster history: significant data on major disasters worldwide, 1900-persent, Washington, D.C., 1994, Agency for International Development, pp. 1–145.
Hagman, G.,Prevention Better Than Cure, Stockholm, 1984, Swedish Red Cross.
Wijkman, A., and Timberlake, L.,Natural Disasters: Acts of God or Acts of Man, Earthscan Paperback, New York, 1984, pp. 1–178.
Noji, E.K.: Analysis of medical needs in disasters caused by tropical cyclones: the need for a uniform injury reporting scheme.J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 96:370–376, 1993.
Binder, S., and Sanderson, L.M., The role of the epidemiologist, in natural disasters.Ann. Emerg. Med. 16:1081–1084, 1987.
Guha-Sapir, D., and Lechat, M.F., Information systems and needs assessment in natural disasters: an approach for better disaster relief management.Disasters 10:232–237, 1986.
World Health Organization,Rapid health assessment protocols, Geneva, 1990, Emergency Preparedness and Response Office, World Health Organization.
Hlady, W.G., Quenemoen, L.E., Armenia-Cope, R.R., et al., Use of a modified cluster sampling method to perform rapid needs assessment after Hurricane Andrew.Ann. Emerg. Med. 23:719–725, 1994.
Lillibridge, S.A., Noji, E.K., and Burkle, F.M., Disaster assessment: the emergency health evaluation of a disaster site.Ann. Emerg. Med. 22:1715–1720, 1993.
Centers for Disease Control: Rapid health needs assessment following Hurricane Andrew—Florida and Louisiana.MMWR 41:696–698, 1992.
Foege, W.H., Public health aspects of disaster management. (J.M. Last, ed.),Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Appleton-Century-Croft, Norwalk, CT, 1986, pp. 1879–1886.
Spencer, H.C., Campbell, C.C., Romero, A., et al., Disease surveillance and decision making after the 1976 Guatemala earthquake.Lancet 2:181–184, 1977.
Surmieda, R.S., Abad-Viola, G., Abellanosa, I.P., et al., Surveillance in evacuation camps after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. InPublic Health Surveillance and International Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, 1992, pp. 9–12.
Lee, L.E., Fonseca, V., Brett, K., et al., Active morbidity surveillance after Hurricane Andrew.JAMA 270:591–594, 1993.
Glass, R.I., Nieburg, P., Cates, W., et al., Rapid assessment of health status and preventive-medicine needs of newly arrived Kampuchean refugees, Sa Kaeo, Thailand.Lancet 1:868–872, 1980.
Noji, E.K., Progress in disaster management.Lancet 343:1239–1240, 1994.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Noji, E.K. Disaster epidemiology and disease monitoring. J Med Syst 19, 171–174 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257068
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02257068