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Assessment of the Public Health Risks and Impact of a Tornado in Funing, China, 23 June 2016: A Retrospective Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Kaiwen Wang

    (School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, 2nd Yat-Sen Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Shuang Zhong

    (School of Government, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Xiaoye Wang

    (Public Health Emergency Center, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Zhe Wang

    (Public Health Emergency Center, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Lianping Yang

    (School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, 2nd Yat-Sen Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China)

  • Qiong Wang

    (School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, 2nd Yat-Sen Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China)

  • Suhan Wang

    (School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, 2nd Yat-Sen Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China)

  • Rongrong Sheng

    (School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, 2nd Yat-Sen Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China)

  • Rui Ma

    (School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, 2nd Yat-Sen Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China)

  • Shao Lin

    (School of Public Health, State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA)

  • Wenyu Liu

    (Funing County’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Yancheng 224400, China)

  • Rongqiang Zu

    (Department for Acute Infectious Disease Control, Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 172 Jiangsu Road, Gulou District, Nanjing 210009, China)

  • Cunrui Huang

    (School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74, 2nd Yat-Sen Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510080, China)

Abstract

(1) Background: Tornadoes are one of the deadliest disasters but their health impacts in China are poorly investigated. This study aimed to assess the public health risks and impact of an EF-4 tornado outbreak in Funing, China; (2) Methods: A retrospective analysis on the characteristics of tornado-related deaths and injuries was conducted based on the database from the Funing’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Funing People’s Hospital. A change-point time-series analysis of weekly incidence for the period January 2010 to September 2016 was used to identify sensitive infectious diseases to the tornado; (3) Results: The 75 to 84 years old group was at the highest risk of both death (RR = 82.16; 95% CIs = 19.66, 343.33) and injury (RR = 31.80; 95% CI = 17.26, 58.61), and females were at 53% higher risk of death than males (RR = 1.53; 95% CIs = 1.02, 2.29). Of the 337 injuries, 274 injuries (81%) were minor. Most deaths occurred indoors (87%) and the head (74%) was the most frequent site of trauma during the tornado. Five diseases showed downward change-points; (4) Conclusions: The experience of the Funing tornado underscores the relative danger of being indoors during a tornado and is successful in avoiding epidemics post-tornado. Current international safety guidelines need modification when generalized to China.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaiwen Wang & Shuang Zhong & Xiaoye Wang & Zhe Wang & Lianping Yang & Qiong Wang & Suhan Wang & Rongrong Sheng & Rui Ma & Shao Lin & Wenyu Liu & Rongqiang Zu & Cunrui Huang, 2017. "Assessment of the Public Health Risks and Impact of a Tornado in Funing, China, 23 June 2016: A Retrospective Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:10:p:1201-:d:114485
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chiu, C.H. & Schnall, A.H. & Mertzlufft, C.E. & Noe, R.S. & Wolkin, A.F. & Spears, J. & Casey-Lockyer, M. & Vagi, S.J., 2013. "Mortality from a tornado outbreak, Alabama, April 27, 2011," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(8), pages 52-58.
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