Health crisis explained

A health crisis is an emergency situation or complex health system that affects the public in one or more geographic areas from a particular locality to encompass the entire planet. Health crises generally have significant impacts on community health, loss of life, and on the economy. They may result from disease, industrial processes or poor policy.^{[1] [2]}

Its severity is often measured by the number of people affected by its geographical extent, or the disease or death of the pathogenic process which it originates.^{[3] [4]}

Features

Generally there are three key components in health crises:^[5]

• Public health problem^[6]
• Problem health coordination
• Alarm care: Poor communication of risks to the population resulting in social upheaval.^[7]

Types

• Environmental
• Food
• Toxic

Prevention & Control

• Using the health warning systems. A health system responsive to the needs of the population is required to refine the instruments to ensure adequate preparation before their hatching.^{[8] [9] [10]}
• Transparency of the institutions public or private. The perception of crisis can escape the control of experts or health institutions, and be determined by stakeholders to provide solutions propagate or concerned. This requires a difficult balancing of the need to articulate clear answers and the little-founded fears.^[11]
• Adequate information policy. Irrationality arise when information is distorted, or hidden. Face a health crisis involves: respect for society, coordination of organizations and an institution with scientific weight to the people and to the media, who acted as spokesman in situations of public health risk, to get confidence citizens. The technical capacity of health professionals is more proven than the public officials, which suggests a greater share of the former and better training of the second.^{[12] [13] [14]}
• Evaluate the previous crisis or others experiences. Crises are challenges that must be learned from both the mistakes and successes, since they serve to bring about to the devices and improve the response to other crises. It is important to perform analysis of previous responses, audit risk and vulnerability, research and testing, and drills to prepare themselves against future crises.^{[15] [16] [17]}
• Having objectives: "first, to reduce the impact of illness and death, and second, to avoid social fracture".^[18]
• Preparing contingency plans. Preparation is key to the crisis because it allows a strong response, organized, and scientifically based. Action plans must meet the professional early enough and properly trained, and politicians must be consistent in their actions and coordinate all available resources. It is essential to invest in public health resources to prepare preventive measures and reducing health inequalities to minimize the impact of health crises, as they generally always the poorest suffer most.^{[19] [20]}
• It is important to include all health professions especially primary health care (family physicians, pharmacists, etc.), as often it is these practitioners that are on the front-line in health crises.^{[21] [22]}

Examples

• 1858: Swill milk scandal
• 1905: American meat scandal due to the publishing of Upton Sinclair's book "The Jungle".
• 1918-1920: Spanish flu
• 1963: Birth defects by thalidomide^[23]
• 1981: Toxic oil syndrome or simply toxic syndrome^[24]
  • HIV/AIDS^{[25] [26] [27] [28]}
• 1996: Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad-cow disease^[29]
• 1998: Doñana disaster, also known as the Aznalcollar Disaster or Guadiamar Disaster^[30]
• 2001: Anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax^[31]
• 2003: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)^[32]
• 2004: Avian influenza (H5N1), sometimes avian flu, and commonly bird flu^[33]
• 2006: Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste dump^[34]
  • Trans fat toxicity^[35]
• 2007: Lead paint on toys from China^[36]
• 2008: The 2008 Chinese milk scandal was a food safety incident in China, involving milk and infant formula, and other food materials and components, adulterated with melamine.
  • Canada listeriosis outbreak^[37] and Chile^{[38] [39] [40]}
• 2009: Pandemic H1N1/09 Influenza^[41]
• 2010: Haiti earthquake^[42]
• 2011: Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami^[43]
  • E. coli O104:H4 outbreak^[44]
• 2012: Fraud on breast implants Poly Implant Prothèses (PIP)^{[45] [46]}
• 2013-16: Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa^{[47] [48]}
• 2015: Zika virus outbreak^{[49] [50]}
• 2019-ongoing: COVID-19 pandemic
• 2022: 2022 monkeypox outbreak^[51]

See also

• Global health
• Health policy
• Crisis theory
• Disease mongering
• Health administration
• Health care
• Health policy
• Health law
• Medicalization
• Primary health care
• Routine health outcomes measurement
• Thalidomide
• Universal health care

Bibliography

• Bashir SA. Home Is Where the Harm Is: Inadequate Housing as a Public Health Crisis. American Journal of Public Health. 2002; 92(5):733-8.
• Gross J. The Next Public Health Crisis: Longevity. The New York Times. 2010/10/21.
• Navarro V. Spain is experiencing a Period of intense Social Crisis. Social Europe Journal. 12/11/2012.

External links

• CDCynergy
• WHO: Humanitarian Health Action
• US Health Crisis

Notes and References

1. News: The Top 10 Health Scares Of The Decade. Brownstein. Joseph. December 7, 2009. ABC News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130126005644/http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Decade/top-10-health-scares-past-10-years/story?id=9249373 . 2013-01-26.
2. Gérvas. Juan. Meneu. Ricard. December 2010. Las crisis de salud pública en una sociedad desarrollada. Aciertos y limitaciones en España. Informe SESPAS 2010. Gaceta Sanitaria. 24. 33–36. 10.1016/j.gaceta.2010.06.009. 21094562. 7131968. 0213-9111. free.
3. Book: Alderson, Michael Rowland. Mortality, morbidity, and health statistics. 1988. Stockton Press. 0935859314. New York. 18464719.
4. 10.1038/474S2a. 21666731. Introduction: A smouldering public-health crisis. Nature. 474. 7350. S2–S4. 2011. Gravitz. Lauren. free.
5. Noji EK. The public health consequences of disasters. Oxford: OUP; 1997.
6. Web site: India's Public Health Crisis: The Government Responds. Geeta. Anand. 30 July 2011. 14 April 2017. 15 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200618/https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/07/30/indias-public-health-crisis-the-government-responds/. live.
7. Web site: crisis. Público. 2011-08-28. 2011-11-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20111118053245/http://blogs.publico.es/joan-carles-march-cerda/tag/crisis/. live.
8. Web site: Health Alert Network (HAN). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Atlanta. 2011/08/29. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110912180424/http://www.bt.cdc.gov/HAN/ . 2011-09-12.
9. Valencia . R . Román . E . García-León . FJ . Guillén . J . 2003-11-01 . Sistemas de alerta: una prioridad en vigilancia epidemiológica . Gaceta Sanitaria . 17 . 6 . 520–522 . 10.1157/13055395 . 0213-9111 . free.
10. Fernández K, Ciotti M, Kaiser R. La Unión Europea ante las crisis sanitarias. Rev Adm Sanit. 2006; 4:425–35.
11. AbouZahr . Carla . Adjei . Sam . Kanchanachitra . Churnrurtai . March 2007 . From data to policy: good practices and cautionary tales . The Lancet . 369 . 9566 . 1039–1046 . 10.1016/s0140-6736(07)60463-2 . 0140-6736 . 17382830 . 18443880.
12. Web site: 2018-03-30 . Risk Communication- Gateway to Health Communication - CDC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174200/https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/Risks/ . 2018-08-30 . 2017-09-09.
13. Web site: www.quodem.com . Quodem Consultores S.L. . El Sistema Sanitario ante situaciones de crisis . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903084015/http://www.fcs.es/publicaciones/sistema_sanitario_situaciones_crisis.html . 2011-09-03 . 2011-08-28.
14. Lamata F. Crisis sanitaria y respuesta política. Rev Adm Sanit. 2006; 4:401–6.
15. Spiegel . Paul B . Le . Phuoc . Ververs . Mija-Tesse . Salama . Peter . 2007-03-01 . Occurrence and overlap of natural disasters, complex emergencies and epidemics during the past decade (1995–2004) . Conflict and Health . 1 . 1 . 2 . 10.1186/1752-1505-1-2 . 1752-1505 . 1847810 . 17411460 . free.
16. Web site: What does a health crisis look like? See Houston - USATODAY.com . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120702151157/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-06-18-texas-health-care_N.htm . 2012-07-02 . 2017-08-29 . USA Today.
17. Gérvas . J. . Hernández-Aguado . I. . etal . 2009 . Successes and failures in the management of public health crisis in Spain . dead . Gac Sanit . 23 . 1 . 67–71 . 10.1016/j.gaceta.2007.11.001 . 7131072 . 19231727 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110923190452/http://www.equipocesca.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/crisis-2009-aciertos-y-errores.pdf . 2011-09-23.
18. Weinstein . Robert A. . 2004-06-03 . Planning for Epidemics — The Lessons of SARS . New England Journal of Medicine . 350 . 23 . 2332–2334 . 10.1056/nejmp048082 . 0028-4793 . 15175434.
19. Wells . Paul Krugman and Robin . 23 March 2006 . The Health Care Crisis and What to Do About It . live . The New York Review of Books . 53 . 5 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151105115206/http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2006/mar/23/the-health-care-crisis-and-what-to-do-about-it/ . 5 November 2015 . 29 August 2011.
20. Web site: Gérvas J, Hernández I. El eterno retorno de las crisis sanitarias. El País. 22/05/2007. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120317165214/http://www.equipocesca.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/crisis-2007-05-22-el-pais-el-eterno-retorno-de-las-crisis-sanitarias.pdf . 2012-03-17.
21. Watson KE. The Roles of Pharmacists in Disaster Health Management in Natural and Anthropogenic Disasters. [Thesis].  QUT ePrints: Queensland University of Technology; 2019 Available from: https://eprints.qut.edu.au/130757/ .
22. Watson KE, Singleton JA, Tippett V, Nissen LM. Defining pharmacists' roles in disasters: A Delphi study. PLoS One 2019;14(12):e0227132.
23. Rouhi. Maureen. June 20, 2005. Top Pharmaceuticals: Thalidomide. Chemical & Engineering News. 83. 25. 10.1021/cen-v083n025.p122. June 11, 2012. September 4, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150904052354/http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/83/8325/8325thalidomide.html. live.
24. News: A Long Trial in Spain on Fatal Tainted Food. August 2, 1987. The New York Times. Madrid. February 16, 2017. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629171801/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/02/world/a-long-trial-in-spain-on-fatal-tainted-food.html. live.
25. Web site: Indonesia key. Controlling the Pandemic: Public Health Focus. Koshland Science Museum. Retrieved 2015-07-10.. 2015-07-10. 2015-07-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711100324/https://www.koshland-science-museum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/ControllingPandemicstupagesINDONESIAkey.pdf. live.
26. Web site: Behind the Veil of a Public Health Crisis: HIV/AIDS in the Muslim World. 2015-07-10. 2015-07-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20150710234531/http://www.nbar.org/publications/issue.aspx?id=111. live.
27. Web site: AIDS In Black America: A Public Health Crisis. Dr Robert. Fullilove. NPR.org . 2018-04-04. 2015-07-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711080846/http://www.npr.org/2012/07/05/156292172/aids-in-black-america-a-public-health-crisis. live.
28. Web site: HIV/AIDS and the Public Health Crisis in Our Communities: The Time for Action Is Now. C. Virginia. Fields. . 24 July 2012. 10 July 2015. 11 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150711062356/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-virginia-fields/hivaids-and-the-public-health-crisis-in-our-communities_b_1690156.html. live.
29. Web site: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopaphy: An Overview . 2008-04-08 . December 2006 . . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120330094947/http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/BSEbrochure12-2006.pdf . 2012-03-30 .
30. .
31. https://www.fbi.gov/anthrax/amerithraxlinks.htm Amerithrax or Anthrax Investigation
32. Smith, R. D.. Responding to global infectious disease outbreaks, Lessons from SARS on the role of risk perception, communication and management . . 63 . 12 . 3113–3123 . 2006 . 16978751. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.08.004 . 7130909 .
33. Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Humans. The New England Journal of Medicine. The Writing Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Consultation on Human Influenza. A/H5. 29 September 2005. 353. 13. 1374–1385. 10.1056/NEJMra052211. 16192482. 10.1.1.730.7890.
34. News: Ivory Coast Government Panel Releases Toxic Waste Findings . 23 November 2006 . Voice of America . 27 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111001021153/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2006-11-23-voa22.html . 1 October 2011 . dead .
35. Trans Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease. The New England Journal of Medicine. Dariush. Mozaffarian. Martijn B.. Katan. Alberto. Ascherio. Meir J.. Stampfer. Walter C.. Willett. 13 April 2006. 354. 15. 1601–1613. 10.1056/NEJMra054035. 16611951.
36. Web site: Mattel to recall more Chinese-made toys. 2007-08-14. CNN.
37. Web site: Listeria Monocytogenes - Public Health Agency of Canada. 7 February 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090207083151/http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alert-alerte/listeria/listeria_2008-eng.php. 7 February 2009.
38. http://www.redsalud.gov.cl/noticias/noticias.php?id_n=281 Ministerio de Salud de Chile. Listeriosis: con medidas simples la población puede prevenirla. 28/11/2008. Access date 26/05/2013.
39. Web site: Noriega LM, Gonzalez P, Thompson L, Pérez J, Marcotti A, Vial P. Informe sobre aumento de casos de infección por Listeria monocytogenes en Santiago de Chile. Santiago de Chile: Unidad de Infectología de la Clínica Alemana. 16/06/2008. Access date 26/05/2013.. 2013-04-26. 2018-10-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20181016174954/http://www.sochinf.cl/documentos/Listeria_monocytogenes_junio_2008.pdf. dead.
40. http://www.redsalud.gov.cl/portal/url/item/71fd37eae7d943a4e04001011f014853.pdf Ministerio de Salud de Chile. Informe Listeriosis. 25/08/2009. Access date 26/05/2013.
41. 9 July 2009. Geographic Dependence, Surveillance, and Origins of the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Virus. New England Journal of Medicine. 361. 2. 115–119 . 19474418 . Vladimir . Trifonov . Hossein . Khiabanian . Raul . Rabadan. 10.1056/NEJMp0904572. free.
42. Web site: Health crisis in Haiti enters a deadly new phase. . 10 February 2010.
43. Web site: Japan's other health crisis. 2011-08-29. 2011-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20110830002939/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/asia-pacific/japan/110327/japan-health-tsunami-radiation-evacuees. live.
44. Web site: European Commission - Health and Consumers Directorate General - 2 June 2011 . 2011-06-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121103214527/http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/docs/stec_summary_note_audioconference_02062011_en.pdf . 3 November 2012 .
45. Web site: European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - Medical devices: European Commission asks for further scientific study and draws first lessons from the recent fraud on breast implants. 2022-06-29. 2012-02-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20120207132105/http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP%2F12%2F96&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en. live.
46. Web site: Información sobre las prótesis mamarias Poly Implant PIP. Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios. 02/03/2012.. 2012-06-11. 2012-06-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20120620101026/http://www.aemps.gob.es/productosSanitarios/prodSanitarios/infor_PIP/home.htm. live.
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48. The Ebola Emergency — Immediate Action, Ongoing Strategy. The New England Journal of Medicine. Jeremy J.. Farrar. Peter. Piot. 16 October 2014. 371. 16. 1545–1546. 10.1056/NEJMe1411471. 25244185. 29201795 . 30 July 2019. 30 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190730220340/https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/1947014/1/nejme1411471.pdf. live.
49. Web site: PAHO WHO - Zika virus infection - Geographic Distribution. 2016-02-26. 2016-01-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20160130165057/http://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_topics&view=readall&cid=8096&Itemid=41484&lang=en. live.
50. News: Zika virus set to spread across Americas, spurring vaccine hunt. 26 January 2017. Reuters. 2 July 2017. 11 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711095615/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-zika-idUSKCN0V30U6. live.
51. Kozlov . Max . 25 July 2022 . Monkeypox declared a global emergency: will it help contain the outbreak? . Nature . en . 10.1038/d41586-022-02054-7. 35879614 . 251067503 .