Floods in the WHO European Region: health effects and their prevention

Overview

In 2009–2011, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the United Kingdom HealthProtection Agency undertook a project to investigate the adverse health effects of floods andto understand how best to protect the health of populations during floods in the EuropeanRegion. The project had two main components. A questionnaire was sent to 50 of the 53Member States of the WHO European Region to collect information on recent experience offloods, their health effects and current preparedness and response mechanisms. Furthermore, asystematic review was undertaken of the epidemiological literature on the global impact offlooding on health. Analysis of the returned questionnaires and the peer-reviewed literaturebrought to light many issues pertinent to Europe. These findings will help WHO to prepareevidence-based guidance for the European Region on health concerns before, during and afterflooding incidents and the measures for prevention, response and recovery.