Public health response to disasters

Abstract

The laboratory can often provide the essential link between environmental factors, disease and appropriate medical intervention. Laboratory processes have the capacity to identify causative organisms in samples which have been obtained from both humans (e.g. faeces) and the environment (e.g. water). Following any disaster, the potential for occurrence of disease is increased at a time when medical facilities may be damaged and the demands for medical services increased. The identification of the causes of disease are essential in any circumstances; often simple public health measures are the most effective means of controlling a potentially disastrous situation such as a disease outbreak.