3.1. Detection and control of communicable diseases

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deteccioncontrolenfermDisasters may increase the risk of disease. Therefore, epidemiological surveillance systems and disease prevention and control programs and should be in place.

  • National epidemiological surveillance system and tools available for disease monitoring and control should be adequate and/or easy to use in disaster situations.
  • An epidemiological surveillance system in disaster situations is based on the rapid establishment of sentinel sites, surveillance of notifiable diseases, use of practical report forms, and reporting based on symptoms and syndromes. Examples of the forms, along with main types of health information needed for decision-making, can be found in the guide to epidemiological health surveillance in disaster situations.
  • Epidemiologists and epidemiological field personnel must be trained in disaster management and must have the capacity to work in difficult and demanding situations.
  • and epidemiological field personnel must be trained in disaster management and must have the capacity to work in difficult and demanding situations. Epidemiological surveillance and disease control system cannot be successful without the support of a public health laboratory. It is imperative that steps be taken in the preparedness phase to strengthen both the national reference laboratory and the network of regional and local laboratories Arrangements for cooperation with international laboratories should be established in advance. In conducting a rapid health evaluation, it may be useful to consult this publication on protocols for rapid health assessment in emergency situations. Protocols vary according to the type of hazard. This publication provides protocols for health assessment, disasters caused by natural events, chemical emergencies, outbreak of infectious diseases, and others.

The most common risks for the increase and/or emergence of new disease include:

  • Increased population density: Overcrowding increases the incidence of acute respiratory diseases.
  • Population displacement: Migrating populations may be exposed to diseases for which they lack natural immunity, or they may introduce diseases to an area.
  • Interruption and/or contamination of water supplies and interruption of health services: Disasters can destroy these services or put them out of commission for long periods of time.
  • Interruption of routine public health programs: The interruption of public health programs in the aftermath of a disaster increases the population’s vulnerability.
  • Ecological changes that favor an increase of vectors: For example, the effects of climate change, such as intense rainfall, can increase mosquito breeding sites.
  • Displacement of domestic and wild animals: This increases the population’s vulnerability to zoonoses.
  • Interruption of food and water supplies: Lack of quality control of food and water distributed to affected populations can cause disease outbreaks or epidemics.

It is important to constantly update the epidemiological profiles of areas that are vulnerable to disasters, including the lists of diseases that may arise in the event of a disaster, as well as early warning systems, monitoring mechanisms and operational research.

Natural disasters can be catalysts for emerging diseases, or increase re-emerging disasters. For more information, consult the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control bulletin Emerging Infectious Diseases. In the preparedness phase, countries should strengthen their core capacities in accordance with the recommendations set forth in the International Health Regulations.

Finally, for guidance in organizing field investigations, analyzing findings, implementing control measures, and evaluating interventions, consult the WHO publication Communicable disease control in emergencies: a field manual.