O-34 Risk of Infectious Disease Outbreaks Following Natural Disasters in the Caribbean Region.
Author(s):
K Ramsammy- Boyce
Country(ies) Of Focus:
- CARPHA Member States
- CARICOM Countries
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To investigate the risk of infectious disease outbreaks following natural disasters in the Caribbean, specifically from hurricanes and floods.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted for this research. Various research databases as well as reports and articles published by WHO, PAHO and CEDEMA were selected to abstract relevant data. This was done utilizing the PRISMA flow diagram.
Results: Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 974 studies were identified from databases and an additional 13 were identified through other sources. The 974 database studies were de-duplicated and 961 were identified for screening; following which 837 were excluded (87%). The remaining 124 studies were assessed for eligibility and a further 101 were excluded because they did not fit the inclusion criteria. A total of 36 studies satisfied the inclusion criteria, (23 from databases and 13 from additional sources), and were included in the systematic review.
Conclusion: The risk of infectious disease outbreaks following hurricanes and floods within the Caribbean is not as common as may be perceived. Despite these findings, the risk of such occurrences should not be taken for granted, especially when taking into consideration the region’s natural location and size which makes it highly vulnerable to natural disasters. Additionally, underlying challenges such as underdeveloped infrastructure, inaequate WASH systems and overall economic capactiy to withstand the effects of natural disasters remain a concern especially when coupled with other health emergencies like COVID and climate change.