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Advances in warning technology and timely evacuation have decreased hurricane-related mortality
| PRESS CONTACT: Randolph Dailey CDC Division of Media Relations 404-639-3286 |
On August 29, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast near the Louisiana-Mississippi border, creating devastating storm-surge conditions. Storm-induced breeches in the New Orleans levee system resulted in the catastrophic flooding of that city. The hurricane disrupted basic utilities, food-distribution systems, health-care services, and communications. Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest hurricane to strike the United States since 1928. The preliminary mortality rates indicate approximately 1,000 Katrina-related deaths in Louisiana, 200 in Mississippi, and 20 in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. In the days after the hurricane struck, more than 200,000 persons congregated in evacuation centers. During and after Hurricane Katrina the majority of deaths resulted from storm surges along the Mississippi and Louisiana coastline and flooding in the New Orleans area. The situation was compounded on September 24, when Hurricane Rita forced the cessation of response activities in New Orleans and the evacuation of Louisiana and Texas cities near the Gulf. Advances in warning technology and timely evacuation have decreased hurricane related mortality.
Cases of cholera rarely occur in the United States, and cholera epidemics, such as those reported in certain developing countries, are highly unlikely, even with the extreme flooding conditions caused by the two hurricanes.
| PRESS CONTACT: Peter Vranken Louisiana Department of Public Health 504-219-4357 |
No evidence suggests any increased risk for cholera among Gulf Coast residents or consumers of Gulf Coast seafood after the hurricanes. Louisiana was struck by Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005, and by Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. The two Gulf Coast hurricanes caused unprecedented damage from wind and storm surge to the Louisiana coastline, and levee breaks caused flooding of large residential areas in New Orleans. With the flooding, one of the immediate public health concerns was the potential for outbreaks of infectious diseases, including cholera. Cases of cholera rarely occur in the United States, and cholera epidemics, such as those reported in certain developing countries, are highly unlikely, even with the extreme flooding conditions caused by the two hurricanes. No evidence suggests any increased risk for cholera among Gulf Coast residents or consumers of Gulf Coast seafood after the hurricanes. This report describes the investigation by the Louisiana Office of Public Health and CDC into two cases of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 in a Louisiana couple; the cases were attributed to consumption of undercooked or contaminated seafood. Although noncholeragenic Vibrio illnesses (not cholera) were reported in 22 residents of Louisiana and Mississippi, no epidemic of cholera was identified after the hurricanes (1 figure).
This report of the implementation of injury and illness surveillance in hospitals and acute-care facilities after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the New Orleans area, highlights the importance of conducting detailed data collection following natural disasters. Understanding Injury and illness etiology is of utmost importance in the beginning stages following a disaster which should then transition to an electronic syndromic surveillance system that is more sustainable in the long-term.
| PRESS CONTACT: Sukhminder Sandhu CDC OWD (404) 639-3286 |
This report describes injury and illness surveillance following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (September 8–25, 2005) and provides frequencies of these events following Hurricane Rita and during re-population of the New Orleans area. The results indicate that 17,446 emergency department visits occurred at participating facilities during this period where the proportion of relief workers with acute respiratory events and unintentional injuries was higher compared with residents. In addition, the proportion of falls and motor-vehicle crashes among relief workers was lower as compared to residents. Although the initial collection of detailed data using a paper-based active surveillance system was initially implemented; the burden of such system required the transition to an electronic syndromic surveillance system that would be more sustainable in the long term.
No Summary Available
As New Orleans recovers from Hurricane Katrina, area residents will have a combination of environmental, medical, and mental health needs that must be addressed within a public health strategy for rebuilding community services.
| PRESS CONTACT: Randolph Daley CDC Division of Media Relations (404) 639-3286 |
Persons who survive natural disasters face numerous physical, mental, and social challenges. To identify health-related needs among New Orleans area residents after Hurricane Katrina, state and local public health and mental health agencies and CDC conducted an assessment of living conditions, access to basic services, and physical and mental health status. This assessment determined that, approximately 7 weeks after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, 20.2 percent of housing units lacked water, 24.5 percent had no electricity, 43.2 percent had no telephone service, and 55.7 percent of households contained one or more member with a chronic health condition. In addition, 49.8 percent of adults exhibited levels of emotional distress indicating a potential need for mental health services. As a result of these findings, the Louisiana Office of Mental Health established a crisis-counseling program to provide interventions and support to hurricane survivors.
During environmental surveillance visible mold growth was evident in some 46 percent of homes surveyed for bacterial and fungal structural components with levels in many homes at or above those reported to be associated with health effects. Residents and remediation workers did not consistently use appropriate respiratory protection.
| PRESS CONTACT: NCEH/ATSDR CDC Division of Media Relations (404) 498-0070 |
For public communications about mold, television or radio announcements are recommended in both Spanish and English along with education of employees in stores that sell respiratory protection. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made landfall on August 29 and September 24, 2005, many buildings in the New Orleans area were damaged by rain and flooding, leading to extensive mold growth in buildings. Visible mold growth was evident and growth of mold and bacteria was above levels reported to be associated with health effects, yet residents and remediation workers did not consistently use appropriate respiratory protection. Public health interventions should emphasize the importance of safe mold removal and clean-up practices and ensure the availability of recommended personal protective equipment. Specifically, measures to increase awareness of the need for the use of protective equipment by the public are warranted. Television and radio announcements and educational sessions conducted for and by employees of stores that sell respirators should emphasize the importance of appropriate respiratory protection. Relevant occupational safety training for remediation workers should be supported by their employers.
No Summary Available
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Contact Us This page last reviewed January 19, 2006 Centers for
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