A strategic response map for cascading pandemics: Lessons learned from the response to COVID-19 in the Republic of Korea.

COVID 19 is a still on-going fatal risk that affects the whole world. COVID-19 pandemic has been characterized as a systemic risk. Accordingly, this paper aims to identify the features of systemic risk of COVID-19 and draw policy implications for effective response. For this, we traced the COVID-19 related risk in Korea from January 2020 to August 2021 by utilizing the official data of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Analyzing the relationship between anticipated, emerging, amplified, and lingering risk and response measure through actual data, it was revealed that the risk flow model for cascading risk proposed by the author can be readily applied. In addition, through the analysis of actual response measures against the risks for 1 year and 8 months, the authors proposed a strategic response map against cascading pandemics. Five policy implication derived through this study can be extended for identifying strategic approach against cascading pandemics and for developing guidelines for effective preparedness, risk reduction, and resilience building.

COVID-19: Systemic risk and response management in the Republic of Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the different kinds of risks associated with the novel coronavirus infection in the Republic of Korea and how those risks have been changed by the countermeasures taken by the Korean authorities and citizens. To this end, the authors explored the official database of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) in order to extract risk-related data from January 2020 to April 2021, and then identified the disaster risks and countermeasures from the government press briefings and news media in the same period. Consequently, this study identified three important approaches to enhance the infectious disease response management. First, the government has to respond immediately, even when they lack information and knowledge about the new type of risk. Second, a multi-sectoral response must be prepared to cope with systemic risks. Third, the government should prioritize transparency, inclusive risk governance, and innovative technologies during the initial response stage against risks with high uncertainty and novelty. Aside from these approaches, the types of risks were divided into four categories based on the response measures: anticipated risk against which countermeasures can be planned in advance, lingering risk against which adaptive response should be taken promptly, amplified risk, and emerging risk; the last two risks require the established plan to be modified drastically in order to secure higher-level engagement and additional resources. Finally, the authors proposed a risk management flow that can be applied to an in-depth analysis of the intersection between risk and response.

Applying a New Framework for Public Health Systems Recovery following Emergencies and Disasters: The Example of Haiti following a Major Earthquake and Cholera Outbreak.

Emergencies can often directly impact health systems of an affected region or country, especially in resource-constrained areas. Health system recovery following an emergency is a complex and dynamic process. Health system recovery efforts have often been structured around the World Health Organization's health systems building blocks as demonstrated by the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment. Although this structure is valuable and well known, it can overlook the intricacies of public health systems. We retrospectively examine public health systems recovery, a subset of the larger health system, following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and cholera outbreak, through the lens of the 10 essential public health services. This framework illustrates the comprehensive nature of and helps categorize the activities necessary for a well-functioning public health system and can complement other assessments. Outlining the features of a public health system for recovery in structured manner can also help lay the foundation for sustainable long-term development leading to a more robust and resilient health system.

Implementation of an alert and response system in Haiti during the early stage of the response to the cholera epidemic.

The start of the cholera epidemic in Haiti quickly highlighted the necessity of the implementation of an Alert and Response (A&R) System to complement the existing national surveillance system. The national system had been able to detect and confirm the outbreak etiology but required external support to monitor the spread of cholera and coordinate response, because much of the information produced was insufficiently timely for real-time monitoring and directing of a rapid, targeted response. The A&R System was designed by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization in collaboration with the Haiti Ministry of Health, and it was based on a network of partners, including any institution, structure, or individual that could identify, verify, and respond to alerts. The defined objectives were to (1) save lives through early detection and treatment of cases and (2) control the spread through early intervention at the community level. The operational structure could be broken down into three principle categories: (1) alert (early warning), (2) verification and assessment of the information, and (3) efficient and timely response in coordination with partners to avoid duplication. Information generated by the A&R System was analyzed and interpreted, and the qualitative information was critical in qualifying the epidemic and defining vulnerable areas, particularly because the national surveillance system reported incomplete data for more than one department. The A&R System detected a number of alerts unrelated to cholera and facilitated rapid access to that information. The sensitivity of the system and its ability to react quickly was shown in May of 2011, when an abnormal increase in alerts coming from several communes in the Sud-Est Department in epidemiological weeks (EWs) 17 and 18 were noted and disseminated network-wide and response activities were implemented. The national cholera surveillance system did not register the increase until EWs 21 and 22, and the information did not become available until EWs 23 and 24, when the peak of cases had already been reached. Although many of the partners reporting alerts during the peak of the cholera epidemic have since left Haiti, the A&R System has continued to function as an Early Warning (EWARN) System, and it continues to be developed with recent activities, such as the distribution of cell phones to enhance alert communication.

Panel 2.12: the health sector contribution to disaster reduction.

This is a summary of the presentations and discussion of Panel 2.12, The Health Sector Contribution to Disaster Reduction, of the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Phuket, Thailand, 04-06 May 2005. The topics discussed included issues related the health sector's contribution to disaster reduction as pertain to the damage created by the Tsunami. It is presented in the following major sections: (1) issues; (2) lessons learned; and (3) recommendations.

Overall disaster management in the Caribbean from a health sector point of view

This paper identifies the main trends in overall disaster management in the Caribbean regional and national levels from a health sector perspective. It highlights the main reasons why and how the region movel from an "ad hoc" response which existed in the sixties, to an organized systems by the middle of the nineties. It also proposes some areas which will need special attention in order to improve regional and national overall disaster management in the future (AU)

Overall disaster management in the Caribbean from a health sector point of view

This paper identifies the main trends in overall disaster management in the Caribbean regional and national levels from a health sector perspective. It highlights the main reasons why and how the region movel from an "ad hoc" response which existed in the sixties, to an organized systems by the middle of the nineties. It also proposes some areas which will need special attention in order to improve regional and national overall disaster management in the future

Resumen histórico de desastres ocurridos en Costa Rica / Historical review of disasters in Costa Rica

Costa Rica por su situación geográfica es propensa a varios tipos de catástrofes naturales, entre los principales se incluyen sismos, actividad volcánica, inundaciones y sequías