What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database
Abstract Background Reporting on and monitoring epidemics is a public health priority. Several initiatives and platforms provide epidemiological data, such as the EM-DAT International Disaster Database, which has 1525 epidemics and their impact reported since 1900, including 892 epidemics between 20...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21026-2 |
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| author | Margo Tonnelier Damien Delforge Regina Below Juan Armando Torres Munguía Claude Saegerman Valentin Wathelet Joris A. F. van Loenhout Niko Speybroeck |
| author_facet | Margo Tonnelier Damien Delforge Regina Below Juan Armando Torres Munguía Claude Saegerman Valentin Wathelet Joris A. F. van Loenhout Niko Speybroeck |
| author_sort | Margo Tonnelier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Reporting on and monitoring epidemics is a public health priority. Several initiatives and platforms provide epidemiological data, such as the EM-DAT International Disaster Database, which has 1525 epidemics and their impact reported since 1900, including 892 epidemics between 2000 and 2023. However, EM-DAT has inconsistent coverage and deficiencies regarding the systematic monitoring of epidemics data due to the lack of a standardized methodology to define what will be included under an epidemic disaster. Methods We conducted a sequential study that included an online survey of experts in infectious diseases, public health emergencies, and related data, followed by committee discussions with disaster experts. This approach aimed to identify appropriate definitions and entry criteria for archiving disease outbreak events. Results The survey had 21 respondents from universities and international organizations, with experts primarily specialized in infectious disease surveillance. Experts agreed that epidemics should be considered as disasters. Experts cited challenges in defining epidemic thresholds. However, they proposed pathogen-based criteria and agreed that disruption to society, especially to the healthcare system, serves as a determinant of epidemic disasters. The experts favored deaths and confirmed cases as key indicators, alongside suggestions on refining EM-DAT's entry criteria and improving epidemic impact assessment. Discussion This article offers valuable insights into epidemic disasters, a topic previously underdefined in the literature, thereby enhancing understanding for policymakers and public health professionals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-39a3f32d01d442ed98b3c0f19c84c799 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-39a3f32d01d442ed98b3c0f19c84c7992025-01-05T12:48:56ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111210.1186/s12889-024-21026-2What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster DatabaseMargo Tonnelier0Damien Delforge1Regina Below2Juan Armando Torres Munguía3Claude Saegerman4Valentin Wathelet5Joris A. F. van Loenhout6Niko Speybroeck7Centre for Research On the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), UCLouvainCentre for Research On the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), UCLouvainCentre for Research On the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), UCLouvainFaculty of Economic Sciences, Georg-August-Universität GöttingenResearch Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Science (UREAR-ULg), Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals & Health (FARAH) Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of LiègeCentre for Research On the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), UCLouvainCentre for Research On the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), UCLouvainCentre for Research On the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED), Institute of Health and Society (IRSS), UCLouvainAbstract Background Reporting on and monitoring epidemics is a public health priority. Several initiatives and platforms provide epidemiological data, such as the EM-DAT International Disaster Database, which has 1525 epidemics and their impact reported since 1900, including 892 epidemics between 2000 and 2023. However, EM-DAT has inconsistent coverage and deficiencies regarding the systematic monitoring of epidemics data due to the lack of a standardized methodology to define what will be included under an epidemic disaster. Methods We conducted a sequential study that included an online survey of experts in infectious diseases, public health emergencies, and related data, followed by committee discussions with disaster experts. This approach aimed to identify appropriate definitions and entry criteria for archiving disease outbreak events. Results The survey had 21 respondents from universities and international organizations, with experts primarily specialized in infectious disease surveillance. Experts agreed that epidemics should be considered as disasters. Experts cited challenges in defining epidemic thresholds. However, they proposed pathogen-based criteria and agreed that disruption to society, especially to the healthcare system, serves as a determinant of epidemic disasters. The experts favored deaths and confirmed cases as key indicators, alongside suggestions on refining EM-DAT's entry criteria and improving epidemic impact assessment. Discussion This article offers valuable insights into epidemic disasters, a topic previously underdefined in the literature, thereby enhancing understanding for policymakers and public health professionals.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21026-2Epidemic definitionEpidemiology of DisastersBiological HazardsEmergency Events Database (EM-DAT)Disaster Health ImpactReporting Methodology |
| spellingShingle | Margo Tonnelier Damien Delforge Regina Below Juan Armando Torres Munguía Claude Saegerman Valentin Wathelet Joris A. F. van Loenhout Niko Speybroeck What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database BMC Public Health Epidemic definition Epidemiology of Disasters Biological Hazards Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) Disaster Health Impact Reporting Methodology |
| title | What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database |
| title_full | What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database |
| title_fullStr | What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database |
| title_full_unstemmed | What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database |
| title_short | What makes an epidemic a disaster: the future of epidemics within the EM-DAT International Disaster Database |
| title_sort | what makes an epidemic a disaster the future of epidemics within the em dat international disaster database |
| topic | Epidemic definition Epidemiology of Disasters Biological Hazards Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT) Disaster Health Impact Reporting Methodology |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21026-2 |
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