Hurricanes, Floods and Ritual Infectious Disease Outbreak Warnings

Michael Naafs, A. B.

Department of Medicine, Naafs International Health Consultancy, Netherlands

Dr. Michael Naafs, A. B., Department of Medicine, Naafs International Health Consultancy, Netherlands.

Keywords: Hurricanes; Floods; Water-Borne Diseases; Vector-Bone Diseases

Abstract

The relationship between natural disasters, as hurricanes and floods, and communicable diseases is often overstated. Nevertheless, mainstream media reproduce their yearly ritual warnings with no evidence cholera, yellow fever, leptospirosis, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, malaria and Zika outbreaks are occurring in non-endemic countries as the U.S., manifesting only little surges in dengue and West Nile Fever, following hurricanes and floods. In this mini-review water-and vector-borne disease outbreaks occurring after floods and hurricanes worldwide are discussed.

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