About this Research Topic
Man-made and natural disasters or armed and military conflict contribute to the outbreak and spread of infectious diseases in many parts of the world. In countries and regions affected by multiple crises, populations are highly vulnerable and often forced to seek refuge. Poor housing, lack of hygiene, destruction of vital infrastructure, collapse of healthcare systems, overpopulation and disruption of supply chains for safe water, food and medicines increase the risk of respiratory infections, diarrhoea, skin infections, Vaccine-preventable childhood diseases and hepatitis. Stakeholders and governments will benefit from new insights that will inform decision-making during conflicts and disasters and strengthen preparedness.
To mention a recent example, the alarming spread of Mpox from the eastern Congo prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. A large proportion of the new Mpox cases have been linked to camps for displaced people and the living conditions there. According to UNHCR, seven million people are displaced in Congo, which is plagued by armed conflict, including more than 5.5 million in the east of the country. The humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo increases the risk of a health crisis in the entire region and even on a global scale.
This Research Topic aims to gather information to investigate the links between disasters and conflicts and the burden of infectious diseases to better understand the impact on vulnerable and displaced populations, and to develop strategies to mitigate health risks and stabilise health services. As such, we would like to explore:
• Existing emergency preparedness and response strategies in regions affected by conflict and disaster in relationship with disease epidemics;
• Measures needed to sustainably prepare for emergencies and minimize the negative impact on human well-being;
• Recent advances in innovative interventions and technologies that improve emergency response and/or that enhance the resilience of healthcare delivery and functioning of supply chains;
• Securing of such interventions against external shocks in emergency contexts.
We welcome a variety of manuscripts such as original research articles, case studies, landscape analysis, and reviews that relate to infectious diseases including viral, bacterial, fungal pathogens and one or more of the following themes:
• Effects of disaster or conflict on disease emergence, dynamics and spread;
• Socio economic, political, environmental and cultural conditions as well as other determinants impacting the epidemic spread;
• Access to and distribution of vaccine supply and/or other preventive measures (e.g. in displaced populations);
• Access to general health care or deployment of health care in emergency settings;
• Innovative response interventions including but not limited to frameworks or tools.
We encourage early career researchers to team up with senior colleagues for submission to our Research Topic.
To mention a recent example, the alarming spread of Mpox from the eastern Congo prompted the World Health Organization to declare a global health emergency. A large proportion of the new Mpox cases have been linked to camps for displaced people and the living conditions there. According to UNHCR, seven million people are displaced in Congo, which is plagued by armed conflict, including more than 5.5 million in the east of the country. The humanitarian crisis in eastern Congo increases the risk of a health crisis in the entire region and even on a global scale.
This Research Topic aims to gather information to investigate the links between disasters and conflicts and the burden of infectious diseases to better understand the impact on vulnerable and displaced populations, and to develop strategies to mitigate health risks and stabilise health services. As such, we would like to explore:
• Existing emergency preparedness and response strategies in regions affected by conflict and disaster in relationship with disease epidemics;
• Measures needed to sustainably prepare for emergencies and minimize the negative impact on human well-being;
• Recent advances in innovative interventions and technologies that improve emergency response and/or that enhance the resilience of healthcare delivery and functioning of supply chains;
• Securing of such interventions against external shocks in emergency contexts.
We welcome a variety of manuscripts such as original research articles, case studies, landscape analysis, and reviews that relate to infectious diseases including viral, bacterial, fungal pathogens and one or more of the following themes:
• Effects of disaster or conflict on disease emergence, dynamics and spread;
• Socio economic, political, environmental and cultural conditions as well as other determinants impacting the epidemic spread;
• Access to and distribution of vaccine supply and/or other preventive measures (e.g. in displaced populations);
• Access to general health care or deployment of health care in emergency settings;
• Innovative response interventions including but not limited to frameworks or tools.
We encourage early career researchers to team up with senior colleagues for submission to our Research Topic.
Keywords: Infectious disease, armed conflicts, natural disasters, health equity, displaced people/displacement, forced migration/migration
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
