Disasters: State of the Art

Journal Article

M.D., Eric K. Noji, . 2005

• Publication Work Type: Faculty
• Tags: disaster, emergency, hazards, emergency medicine, disaster medicine

Publication Abstract

Fifteen years have passed since the last update on this topic was published in Epidemiologic Reviews and 24 years since the first. In the intervening years, disaster prevention, mitigation, and preparedness have evolved in important ways. Clearly, it was time to update the last review.  Epidemiology, as the applied instrument of public health interventions, can provide much needed information on which a rational, effective, and flexible policy for the management of disasters can be based. In particular, epidemiology provides the tools for rapid and effective problem solving during public health emergencies, such as natural and technologic disasters and emergencies from terrorism.