Infectious Diseases and Tropical Cyclones in Southeast China

Abstract

Southeast China is frequently hit by tropical cyclones (TCs) with significant economic and health burdens each year. However, there is a lack of understanding of what infectious diseases could be affected by tropical cyclones. This study aimed to examine the impacts of tropical cyclones on notifiable infectious diseases in southeast China. Disease data between 2005 and 2011 from four coastal provinces in southeast China, including Guangdong, Hainan, Zhejiang, and Fujian province, were collected. Numbers of cases of 14 infectious diseases were compared between risk periods and reference periods for each tropical cyclone. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated to estimate the risks. TCs were more likely to increase the risk of bacillary dysentery, paratyphoid fever, dengue fever and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (ps < 0.05) than to decrease the risk, more likely to decrease the risk of measles, mumps, varicella and vivax malaria (ps < 0.05) than to increase the risk. In conclusion, TCs have mixed effects on the risk of infectious diseases. TCs are more likely to increase the risk of intestinal and contact transmitted infectious diseases than to decrease the risk, and more likely to decrease the risk of respiratory infectious diseases than to increase the risk. Findings of this study would assist in developing public health strategies and interventions for the reduction of the adverse health impacts from tropical cyclones.

Application of Public Health Risk Assessment Methodology for Typhoon Disaster in China

“…In this study, the 20 most likely public health risks after the typhoon disaster occurred in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were selected, and the risk degree was evaluated and ranked. The top five are trauma, typhoid or paratyphoid, cholera, infectious diarrhea, and hepatitis a, which is consistent with the results of studies at home and abroad that the most likely public health risks caused by typhoon disasters are trauma, gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases and insect-borne infectious diseases [4][5][6][7][8]. However, the United States conducted field epidemiological studies after the hurricane in 2004 and found that psychological damage after the typhoon crisis should not be ignored.…”

Direct and indirect health impacts of climate change on the vulnerable elderly population in East China

“…Previous research in Guangdong, South China, found that the landing of tropical cyclones not only causes substantial direct economic losses but also threatens human health (Kang et al 2015). Research has found that tropical cyclones increase the risk of transmitted infectious diseases (Zheng et al 2017). Study in Guangdong city between years 11 2005-2011 concluding that there is an increase on the infectious diarrhea incidents after tropical cyclones (Kang et al 2015).…”

“…•Current •Future Figure 2: Vulnerability factors (Based on Thow and De Blois, 2008 Guangdong, potential loss in economy and health (Kang et al 2015) Vulnerable population groups susceptible to extreme temperatures, both hot and cold (Davídkovová et al 2014;Tian et al 2012;Li et al 2016;De'Donato et al 2013;Ma et al 2013) Flooding is of great concern to the different levels of Chinese government (Zhang and Liu 2006) Malnutrition and mortality, water-related diseases, airborne and dust-related diseases, vector borne diseases; mental health effects (Stanke et al 2013) Air pollutants-increase the risk of coronary heart disease mortality and respiratory problems (PM10, PM2.5) (Zhao et al 2017;D'Amato et al 2013) Increased risk of transmitted infectious diseases (Zheng et al 2017;Kang et al 2015) Extreme heat can cause heat stroke and dehydration, as well as cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular disease risks (Yao-Dong et al 2013;Zeng et al 2014).…”

Інфекційні Захворювання Під Час Повеней У Країнах Світу

“…Інфекційні захворювання під час повеней різняться по країнах світу. Так, встановлено, що тропічні циклони сприяли збільшенню ризику захворюваності на бацилярну дизентерію, черевний тиф, паратифи, норовірусну інфекцію, холеру, інші діарейні інфекції, гарячку Денге, гострий геморагічний кон'юнктивіт, гепатит А, грип, грип А (H1N1), алергічні захворювання (астму, алергічний риніт, атопічний дерматит), але зменшували ризик захворюваності на ентеровірусну хворобу («рука-нога-рот»), кір, епідемічний паротит, краснуху, вітряну віспу, малярію [10,11].…”

“…Низкою досліджень було встановлено, що тайфуни мають більший вплив на рівень захворюваності на інші інфекційні діареї у порівнянні з тропічними штормами, в той же час на бацилярну дизентерію вплив катастроф був протилежним. Дослідження в Китаї показали, що тайфуни та тропічні шторми сприяють збільшенню ризику захворюваності на діарейні інфекції [10]. Тропічні циклони у Китаї з кількістю опадів 25 мм і більше сприяли виникненню спалахів бацилярної дизентерії.…”