Encyclopedia of Natural Hazards

2013 Edition
| Editors: Peter T. Bobrowsky

Epidemiology of Disease in Natural Disasters

Reference work entry
First Online:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4399-4_119
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Definition

The epidemiology of disease in natural disasters encompasses both epidemic diseases, defined as a group of illnesses of similar nature, clearly in excess of normal expectancy and derived from a common or propagated sources, and endemic diseases which are those usually or commonly present in a population (Gordis, 2004). Whereas epidemic diseases are commonly thought of as communicable diseases, epidemics of non-communicable diseases can occur with a disaster. Examples include increases in injuries or mental health conditions arising from a disaster, the common source in the Gordis definition. Endemic conditions can become epidemic following a disaster, directly related to the event, or indirectly, arising from the collapse of health services and other support services. Examples include communicable diseases such as respiratory infections, scabies, hepatitis, or sexually transmitted diseases.

Introduction

Epidemics of communicable diseases are less a feature of natural...

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Refugee and Disaster ResponseBaltimoreUSA