Download Health

Extreme weather events and
other natural hazards –
the work of the HPA
Professor Virginia Murray
Health Protection Agency
April 28, 2017
Outline
Health Protection Agency
Examples
• Heat waves
• Cold weather
• Volcanic ash
• Flooding
International dimensions
Conclusion
• Reducing key infections
• Minimising the health impact of environmental
hazards including radiation, chemicals,
poisonings and extreme events such as
flooding
• Supporting safe and effective biological
medicines
• Co-ordinate
investigations and
outbreak control
• Laboratory services
• Advise government
• Respond to
international health
alerts
194 countries
implement
entered into force on
15 June 2007
http://www.who.int/ihr/97892415
96664/en/index.html
Cabinet Office Briefing Room
GOLD
Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG) – Multi-Agency
‘Others’
Police
Fire
Ambulance
‘Health’
via Science and
Technical Advice
Cell)
Health
Protection
SILVER
On/Off Site
Tactical
Control
SCENE OF INCIDENT
Silver control(s) (Tactical)
Individual agencies
Off Site
NHS Tactical
e.g. Hospital, PCT
Emergency Centre
BRONZE
OFF SITE
Bronze
other services
ON SITE
Bronze (Operational)
Individual agencies
NHS OFF SITE
Operational/Clinical
Response
Hospital / Community / PCT’S
70
The Heatwave Plan for England
1600
60
1400
50
>=65
40
First published in 2004
1000
30
Reissued on 18th March 2010
800
20
CE mean
temperature
600
10
<65
400
0
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/De
200
arcolleagueletters/DH_114433
0
06/07/2009
29/06/2009
22/06/2009
15/06/2009
08/06/2009
01/06/2009
25/05/2009
18/05/2009
11/05/2009
04/05/2009
“Information about the heatwave in 2009: HPA
estimated there were approximately 300 excess
summer deaths between 30th June and 2nd July”
27/04/2009
Deaths
1200
Temp[erature oC
1800
date of death
Daily CET and estimated number of excess deaths according to age-group in England and Wales, 2009
Source: HPA Centre for Infections estimates from ONS/GRO data
-10
-20
Winter kills – CMO annual report 2009
• Every 1 degree Celsius decrease in average
winter temperature results in 8,000 additional
winter deaths in England
• Deaths occur due to increased cardiac, strokes
and respiratory problems.
• Illnesses occur in a predictable pattern following
cold weather, enabling local and national
advance planning
• Mortality in England rises 18% during winter
months, whereas other, colder, countries have
smaller increases
http://archive.cabinetoffice
.gov.uk/pittreview/_/media
/assets/www.cabinetoffice
.gov.uk/
flooding_review/pitt_revie
w_full%20pdf.pdf
Pakistan Health Cluster bulletin
* Shortage of Health Cluster partners in Sindh province,
where relief activities need to be strengthened
* Fears over malnutrition increases
* 514 health facilities damaged or destroyed
* Acute diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections, skin
infections and suspected malaria remain leading causes of
people seeking health care
* Health concerns are evolving as winter approaches in KPK
and northern Punjab with coming cooler weather and
challenges for shelter
http://www.whopak.org/idps/documents/bulletins/Health%20Cluster%20
Bulletin%20No%2019-Final.pdf
Safer hospitals and schools campaigns
Topics selected
Climate change
Changing institutional and public behaviour to
early warnings
www.unisdr.org
Improving resilience to disasters through social
and economic understanding
Knowledge of the wide health impacts of
disasters
Climate change
disaster risk, exposure, vulnerability, and resilience
human systems and ecosystems
Managing risks from climate extremes at
local level
national level
international level
Toward a sustainable and resilient future
Case studies
Conclusion
• Worldwide, effects of climate change and extreme
events are apparent, with increasing significance
for human health
• HPA routinely responds to chemical, biological,
radiological and extreme events incidents
• Preparing
• Preventing
• Responding
• HPA collaborates with local, national and
international partners