ADVANCEMENT OF THE SCIENCE
rium , Aspergillus , and Penicillium spp. During the first sampling period at 12 months, Asper- gillus and Penicillium spp . were most com- mon indoors, whereas Cladosporium spp . and non-sporulating species were common out- doors. For the second sampling period at 22 months, Trichoderma spp . was the most com- mon indoors, while Aspergillus spp., Eurotium amstelodami , and non-sporulating fungi were the most common outdoors. GI illnesses increased in North Carolina after Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Mat- thew, with an 11% increase in emergency department visits due to these illnesses (Quist et al., 2022). The report, however, does not include the cause of the illness (i.e., bacterial, parasitic, or viral). The researchers do note that the increase in GI illnesses was most pro- nounced in Native American patients over 65 years after Hurricane Florence and in Black patients after both hurricanes. This finding is most likely because these populations have historically been pushed into flood-prone regions of North Carolina. Continued track- ing of GI illnesses after hurricanes is necessary so that a prevention plan can be implemented. Health Disparities and Hurricanes As with most other health parameters, patho- genic diseases that result after hurricanes are most common in specific disparate groups of people (Flores et al., 2020). For example, a randomized survey of Houston residents after Hurricane Harvey indicated that indi- viduals most aected by physical health issues were individuals who did not evacu-
ate. Often people do not evacuate because of financial constraints. The survey also showed that posttraumatic stress was more likely to aect non-Hispanic Black individuals than non-Hispanic White individuals. In addition, people who lost jobs after Hurricane Harvey and people with disabilities had their access to healthcare most aected. Hurricanes also aect individuals to a greater degree who live in higher poverty, are less likely to own their homes, and reside in more densely populated urban areas (Burrows et al., 2023). One 15-year study focused on low-income parents who survived Hurricane Katrina, most of whom identified as Black individuals. The researchers sought to better understand dis- parities after natural disasters such as hurri- canes (Raker et al., 2020). This type of study can help guide policymakers and allows ser- vice and health providers to better plan and respond after hurricanes. Raker et al. (2020) found that the focus should be primarily on trauma prevention by preventing obstacles to evacuation. The authors also suggested imple- menting policies that expand access to health- care. They further cited the need to make social services more ecient by building greater con- nections within communities. Additionally, individuals aected for the longer-term should be served for as long as possible. Because climate change is likely to increase natural disasters and aect individuals in dis- parate groups, planning in any region where there is any hurricane risk is a necessity. Fur- ther, the public needs more awareness about pathogens that are known to increase after
hurricanes (Maness, 2019). Public awareness should include an understanding of how these pathogens are most often contracted and how to avoid them. People also need to know that many of these organisms aect individuals who are already at risk and who are already living with health disparities to a greater degree. People who experience health dispari- ties based on race, SES, education status, gen- der, and other factors are more prone to many of the pathogens mentioned in this report that are known to increase after hurricanes. These individuals are more at-risk for: • being exposed to flesh-eating bacteria such as Vibrio species; • contracting respiratory illnesses caused by fungi, viruses, and other pathogens; • developing GI illnesses such as those caused by Giardia , Cryptosporidium , and norovirus; and • contracting illnesses that are highly associ- ated with crowded conditions. Planning is crucial to helping people who live in hurricane-prone areas who already experience health disparities. Implementing planned services will mitigate further risks after hurricanes that increase health risks, especially in individuals who are already at higher-risk. Corresponding Author: Lisa R. Maness, PhD, MT(ASCP, AMT), Professor, Medical Labora- tory Science, Winston-Salem State Univer- sity, 601 South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, 304D New Science Building, Winston-Salem, NC 27110. Email: wishonl@wssu.edu
References
Burrows, K., Anderson, G.B., Yan, M., Wilson, A., Sabath, M.B., Son, J.Y., Kim, H., Dominici, F., & Bell, M.L. (2023). Health dispari- ties among older adults following tropical cyclone exposure in Florida. Nature Communications , 14 (1), Article 2221. https://doi. org/10.1038/s41467-023-37675-7 Caillouët, K.A., & Robertson, S.L. (2020). Temporal and spatial impacts of hurricane damage on West Nile virus transmission and human risk. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association , 36 (2s), 106–119. https://doi.org/10.2987/19-6887.1 Flores, A.B., Collins, T.W., Grineski, S.E., & Chakraborty, J. (2020). Disparities in health eects and access to health care among Hous- ton area residents after Hurricane Harvey. Public Health Reports, 135 (4), 511–523. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033354920930133
Freeman, L. (2024, October 21). Flesh-eating bacteria cases on rise, at near-record level after Hurricane Milton in Florida. Naples Daily News . https://www.news-press.com/story/news/2024/10/21/ flesh-eating-vibrio-disease-on-rise-in-lee-collier-after-milton/ 75775097007/ Harris, A.R., Fidan, E.N., Nelson, N.G., Emanuel, R.E., Jass, T., Kathariou, S., Niedermeyer, J., Sharara, M., de los Reyes, F., III, Riveros-Iregui, D.A., & Stewart, J.R. (2021). Microbial contami- nation in environmental waters of rural and agriculturally-domi- nated landscapes following Hurricane Florence. ACS ES&T Water , 1 (9), 2012–2019. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestwater.1c00103 Jiang, S.C., Han, M., Chandrasekaran, S., Fang, Y., & Kellogg, C.A. (2020). Assessing the water quality impacts of two Category-5
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Volume 88 • Number 1
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