Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration (ECO)
We prevent disease by strengthening countries’ environmental health capacities: water, energy, air quality, climate, and emerging risks. Our One Health approach links human, animal, and environmental health, while inclusive systems address migrants’ and refugees’ health needs.
Environmental health in emergencies

Environmental health in emergencies

WHO/H. Rafalia
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Introduction


Emergency situations, including those due to natural hazards (e.g. earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, landslides, wildfires and droughts), technological hazards (e.g. chemical spills, disruption to infrastructure), complex situations (produced by conflict) and outbreaks, lead to health-related diseases and affect populations in all contexts.

The scale and types of radiological and nuclear emergencies may range from an isolated occupational or medical over-exposure of a person, to a major catastrophe with global dimensions. 

Publications


Communicating risk in public health emergencies: a WHO guideline for emergency risk communication (‎ERC)‎ policy and practice

Recent public health emergencies, such as the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa (2014–2015), the emergence of the Zika virus syndrome in...

News

QAs