Mary P Chang1, Daren J Simkin2, Maria Lourdes de Lara3, Thomas D Kirsch4. 1. 1Department of Emergency Medicine,Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland. 2. 2School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland. 3. 3Ormoc District Hospital,Leyte,Philippines. 4. 4Department of Emergency Medicine,Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Center for Refugee and Disaster Response,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,Baltimore,Maryland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) made landfall in the Philippines. The literature characterizing the medical, surgical, and obstetrics burden following typhoons is lacking. This study aimed to improve disaster preparedness by analyzing medical diagnoses presenting to a city district hospital before, during, and after Typhoon Haiyan. METHODS: The assessment of disease burden and trends was based on logbooks from a local hospital and a nongovernmental organization field hospital for the medicine, surgical, and obstetrics wards before, during, and after the typhoon. RESULTS: The hospital provided no services several days after typhoon impact, but there was an overall increase in patient admissions once the hospital reopened. An increase in gastroenteritis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and motor vehicle collision-related injuries was seen during the impact phase. A dengue fever outbreak occurred during the post-impact phase. There was a noticeable shift in a greater percentage of emergent surgical cases performed versus elective cases during the impact and post-impact phases. CONCLUSION: Overall, several public health measures can prevent the increase in illnesses seen after a disaster. To prepare for the nonfatal burden of disease after a typhoon, health care facilities should increase their resources to accommodate the surge in patient volume.
OBJECTIVE: On November 8, 2013, Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) made landfall in the Philippines. The literature characterizing the medical, surgical, and obstetrics burden following typhoons is lacking. This study aimed to improve disaster preparedness by analyzing medical diagnoses presenting to a city district hospital before, during, and after Typhoon Haiyan. METHODS: The assessment of disease burden and trends was based on logbooks from a local hospital and a nongovernmental organization field hospital for the medicine, surgical, and obstetrics wards before, during, and after the typhoon. RESULTS: The hospital provided no services several days after typhoon impact, but there was an overall increase in patient admissions once the hospital reopened. An increase in gastroenteritis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and motor vehicle collision-related injuries was seen during the impact phase. A dengue fever outbreak occurred during the post-impact phase. There was a noticeable shift in a greater percentage of emergent surgical cases performed versus elective cases during the impact and post-impact phases. CONCLUSION: Overall, several public health measures can prevent the increase in illnesses seen after a disaster. To prepare for the nonfatal burden of disease after a typhoon, health care facilities should increase their resources to accommodate the surge in patient volume.
Authors: Joris Adriaan Frank van Loenhout; Julita Gil Cuesta; Jason Echavez Abello; Juan Mari Isiderio; Maria Lourdes de Lara-Banquesio; Debarati Guha-Sapir Journal: PLoS One Date: 2018-01-30 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Jenna E Coalson; Elizabeth J Anderson; Ellen M Santos; Valerie Madera Garcia; James K Romine; Brian Dominguez; Danielle M Richard; Ashley C Little; Mary H Hayden; Kacey C Ernst Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2021-09-28 Impact factor: 9.031