IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i16p10206-d890670.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Infectious Diseases Associated with Hydrometeorological Hazards in Europe: Disaster Risk Reduction in the Context of the Climate Crisis and the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Maria Mavrouli

    (Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Spyridon Mavroulis

    (Department of Dynamic Tectonic Applied Geology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, School of Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece)

  • Efthymios Lekkas

    (Department of Dynamic Tectonic Applied Geology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, School of Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece)

  • Athanassios Tsakris

    (Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Hydrometeorological hazards comprise a wide range of events, mainly floods, storms, droughts, and temperature extremes. Floods account for the majority of the related disasters in both developed and developing countries. Flooding alters the natural balance of the environment and frequently establish a favorable habitat for pathogens and vectors to thrive. Diseases caused by pathogens that require vehicle transmission from host to host (waterborne) or a host/vector as part of their life cycle (vector-borne) are those most likely to be affected by flooding. Considering the most notable recent destructive floods events of July 2021 that affected several Central Europe countries, we conducted a systematic literature review in order to identify documented sporadic cases and outbreaks of infectious diseases in humans in Europe, where hydrometeorological hazards, mainly floods, were thought to have been involved. The occurrence of water-, rodent-, and vector-borne diseases in several European countries is highlighted, as flooding and the harsh post-flood conditions favor their emergence and transmission. In this context, strategies for prevention and management of infectious disease outbreaks in flood-prone and flood-affected areas are also proposed and comprise pre- and post-flood prevention measures, pre- and post-outbreak prevention measures, as well as mitigation actions when an infectious disease outbreak finally occurs. Emphasis is also placed on the collision of floods, flood-related infectious disease outbreaks, and the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, which may result in unprecedented multi-hazard conditions and requires a multi-hazard approach for the effective disaster management and risk reduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Mavrouli & Spyridon Mavroulis & Efthymios Lekkas & Athanassios Tsakris, 2022. "Infectious Diseases Associated with Hydrometeorological Hazards in Europe: Disaster Risk Reduction in the Context of the Climate Crisis and the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-25, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:10206-:d:890670
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/16/10206/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/16/10206/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Miguel Leal & Catarina Ramos & Susana Pereira, 2018. "Different types of flooding lead to different human and material damages: the case of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 91(2), pages 735-758, March.
    2. Maria Mavrouli & Spyridon Mavroulis & Efthymios Lekkas & Athanassios Tsakris, 2021. "Respiratory Infections Following Earthquake-Induced Tsunamis: Transmission Risk Factors and Lessons Learned for Disaster Risk Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Nigel Arnell & Simon Gosling, 2016. "The impacts of climate change on river flood risk at the global scale," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 134(3), pages 387-401, February.
    4. Maria Cristina Schneider & Jorge Velasco-Hernandez & Kyung-duk Min & Deise Galan Leonel & David Baca-Carrasco & Matthew E. Gompper & Rudy Hartskeerl & Claudia Munoz-Zanzi, 2017. "The Use of Chemoprophylaxis after Floods to Reduce the Occurrence and Impact of Leptospirosis Outbreaks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Serdeczny, Olivia & Waters, Eleanor & Chan, Sander, 2016. "Non-economic loss and damage in the context of climate change: understanding the challenges," IDOS Discussion Papers 3/2016, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    6. Cho Naing & Simon A Reid & Saint Nway Aye & Norah Htet Htet & Stephen Ambu, 2019. "Risk factors for human leptospirosis following flooding: A meta-analysis of observational studies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(5), pages 1-15, May.
    7. Apostolos Vantarakis & Kassiani Μellou & Georgia Spala & Petros Kokkinos & Yiannis Alamanos, 2011. "A Gastroenteritis Outbreak Caused by Noroviruses in Greece," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-11, August.
    8. Hadush Meresa & Bernhard Tischbein & Tewodros Mekonnen, 2022. "Climate change impact on extreme precipitation and peak flood magnitude and frequency: observations from CMIP6 and hydrological models," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 111(3), pages 2649-2679, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Philip Antwi-Agyei & Frank Baffour-Ata & Sarah Koomson & Nana Kwame Kyeretwie & Nana Barimah Nti & Afia Oforiwaa Owusu & Fukaiha Abdul Razak, 2023. "Drivers and coping mechanisms for floods: experiences of residents in urban Kumasi, Ghana," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(2), pages 2477-2500, March.
    2. Bushra Khalid & Bueh Cholaw & Débora Souza Alvim & Shumaila Javeed & Junaid Aziz Khan & Muhammad Asif Javed & Azmat Hayat Khan, 2018. "Riverine flood assessment in Jhang district in connection with ENSO and summer monsoon rainfall over Upper Indus Basin for 2010," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 92(2), pages 971-993, June.
    3. Mashkhura Babadjanova & Ihtiyor Bobojonov & Maksud Bekchanov & Lena Kuhn & Thomas Glauben, 2024. "Can domestic wheat farming meet the climate change-induced challenges of national food security in Uzbekistan?," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(3), pages 448-462, May.
    4. Abhiru Aryal & Albira Acharya & Ajay Kalra, 2022. "Assessing the Implication of Climate Change to Forecast Future Flood Using CMIP6 Climate Projections and HEC-RAS Modeling," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-22, June.
    5. Muluneh Legesse Edamo & Samuel Dagalo Hatiye & Thomas T. Minda & Tigistu Yisihak Ukumo, 2023. "Flood inundation and risk mapping under climate change scenarios in the lower Bilate catchment, Ethiopia," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 118(3), pages 2199-2226, September.
    6. Laura Devitt & Jeffrey Neal & Gemma Coxon & James Savage & Thorsten Wagener, 2023. "Flood hazard potential reveals global floodplain settlement patterns," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Shao Sun & Zunya Wang & Chuanye Hu & Ge Gao, 2021. "Understanding Climate Hazard Patterns and Urban Adaptation Measures in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Indira Pokhrel & Ajay Kalra & Md Mafuzur Rahaman & Ranjeet Thakali, 2020. "Forecasting of Future Flooding and Risk Assessment under CMIP6 Climate Projection in Neuse River, North Carolina," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-23, August.
    9. Osberghaus, Daniel & Reif, Christiane, 2021. "How do different compensation schemes and loss experience affect insurance decisions? Experimental evidence from two independent and heterogeneous samples," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    10. Rachel Clissold & Ellie Furlong & Karen E. McNamara & Ross Westoby & Anita Latai-Niusulu, 2023. "How Pacifika Arts Reveal Interconnected Losses for People and Place in a Changing Climate," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-19, April.
    11. Scarlato, Margherita & D'Agostino, Giorgio, 2016. "The political economy of cash transfers: a comparative analysis of Latin American and sub-Saharan African experiences," IDOS Discussion Papers 6/2016, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    12. Matias, Denise Margaret, 2017. "Slow onset climate change impacts: global trends and the role of science-policy partnerships," IDOS Discussion Papers 24/2017, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    13. Gabriela Czibula & Andrei Mihai & Alexandra-Ioana Albu & Istvan-Gergely Czibula & Sorin Burcea & Abdelkader Mezghani, 2021. "AutoNowP : An Approach Using Deep Autoencoders for Precipitation Nowcasting Based on Weather Radar Reflectivity Prediction," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(14), pages 1-21, July.
    14. Tao Yamamoto & So Kazama & Yoshiya Touge & Hayata Yanagihara & Tsuyoshi Tada & Takeshi Yamashita & Hiroyuki Takizawa, 2021. "Evaluation of flood damage reduction throughout Japan from adaptation measures taken under a range of emissions mitigation scenarios," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 165(3), pages 1-18, April.
    15. Stanislav Ruman & Radek Tichavský & Karel Šilhán & Manolis G. Grillakis, 2021. "Palaeoflood discharge estimation using dendrogeomorphic methods, rainfall-runoff and hydraulic modelling—a case study from southern Crete," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 105(2), pages 1721-1742, January.
    16. Syeda Nadia Kiran & Muhammad Farooq Iqbal & Irfan Mahmood, 2023. "Assessing the impacts of climate change on flooding under Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 scenarios in the river Chenab, Pakistan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(1), pages 1005-1033, May.
    17. Swarupa Paudel & Neekita Joshi & Ajay Kalra, 2023. "Projected Future Flooding Pattern of Wabash River in Indiana and Fountain Creek in Colorado: An Assessment Utilizing Bias-Corrected CMIP6 Climate Data," Forecasting, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-19, April.
    18. Jiangmei Xiong & Yulin Hswen & John A. Naslund, 2020. "Digital Surveillance for Monitoring Environmental Health Threats: A Case Study Capturing Public Opinion from Twitter about the 2019 Chennai Water Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-15, July.
    19. Dayang Wang & Dagang Wang & Chongxun Mo & Yi Du, 2021. "Risk variation of reservoir regulation during flood season based on bivariate statistical approach under climate change: a case study in the Chengbihe reservoir, China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 108(2), pages 1585-1608, September.
    20. Wijesiri, Buddhi & Hettiarachchi, Akash, 2021. "How gender disparities in urban and rural areas influence access to safe drinking water," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:10206-:d:890670. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.