WHO/Europe Health Emergencies Newsletter - Issue No.41: 17.10.2024
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Health Emergencies Newsletter #41
Including:
The autumn-winter regional COVID-19 and respiratory viruses campaign kicks off. Find out what it means to protect yourself and others #LikeOnlyYouCan;
One year after the Hamas-led attacks in Israel, who is helping the helpers to recover?
Central Europe has been inundated by floods - how are countries coping?
Learn how new ambulances and modular health clinics for Ukraine are protecting vulnerable patients.
TOP STORY
9 October 2024: Statement by the WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge. "As we enter our fifth winter since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are much better prepared, armed with the tools and knowledge we need to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe – not just from COVID-19 but indeed from all circulating respiratory viruses, including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)."
COVID-19 AND RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
9 October: COVID-19, once an unprecedented global crisis, has now become a part of our daily lives alongside influenza and other respiratory viruses. It is essential to routinely protect ourselves and those around us.
WHO/Europe has launched the “No one knows your risk like you do” campaign, encouraging people, especially the vulnerable, to assess their risks and take simple protective measures against respiratory viruses. While aimed at individuals, the campaign reiterates that health authorities play a key role in protecting their populations, including by continuing to provide timely health information and advice.
12 September: Statement by WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge. "Ukraine is approaching its third winter amid full-scale war, likely its most challenging yet. A renewed focus on health is more critical than ever, from government, WHO and donors – a renewed focus along the lines of response, recovery and, not least, reform.
In just the past 6 months, targeted attacks have damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Frequent summertime power outages are already taking a toll, with danger signs for the winter, for example, jeopardized storage and distribution of vaccines. If vaccine stocks cannot be used, we could see a rise in vaccine-preventable diseases. Furthermore, water systems could be compromised as water distribution sites depend on uninterrupted power supplies. This could lead to increased waterborne and foodborne diseases. A lack of wintertime heating and ventilation systems could contribute to a rise in respiratory infections, from influenza to COVID-19."
10 October: Since the escalation of war in Ukraine, Czechia has welcomed over 350 000 Ukrainian refugees. With so many people seeking safety, the country’s health system – already stretched due to the COVID-19 pandemic – faced new challenges, especially in responding to mental health needs. About 45% of the refugees were experiencing depression, anxiety and trauma. The situation required immediate and effective action to make sure they had the support they required – and that’s where WHO and national partners stepped in.
11 September: WHO, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Germany, has donated 23 ambulances to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to enable the provision of emergency medical care to patients during the war. These ambulances will serve as mobile intensive care units, designed primarily for transporting critical patients to hospitals and between hospital facilities.
26 September 2024: WHO has opened a new modular primary health-care clinic in the village of Tsyrkuny in the Kharkiv region, replacing a clinic destroyed in an attack earlier this year in nearby Lyptsi.
The clinic is a large, modular primary health-care facility with 4 patient or examination rooms. It will serve internally displaced people who have been evacuated or have fled areas in the region due to intense hostilities. Five health-care workers will staff the clinic, which is fully equipped to operate during power outages.
7 October: As the 1-year mark of the October 2023 Hamas-led attacks passes in Israel, the mental health crisis triggered by the atrocities of that day looms large. In response to this collective trauma, one organization, Mashiv Ha’Ruach (which translates as “Bringing back the spirit”), is providing mental health and psychosocial support for frontline workers. Its workshop retreats, which have been supported by WHO/Europe, offer a safe space for participants to discuss and process their experiences, and to develop resilience and coping mechanisms that enable them to face the future and support other frontline workers.
10 October: In the wake of the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 and subsequent war, the atmosphere of tension and conflict has severely impacted the mental health of people of all faiths in Israel. To support access to mental health services and in turn boost resilience, a WHO-supported initiative has been leveraging the influence of religious leaders from both Jewish and Muslim communities to connect people with critical mental health support.
18 September: Vast areas of central Europe are experiencing what is being called the worst flooding in more than 20 years, triggered by slow-moving Storm Boris. WHO/Europe has been reaching out to affected Member States and offering support, including health advice for communities.
Several deaths have been reported, with numbers likely to rise as the full extent of the damage becomes clearer. Thousands have fled their homes and public services remain severely disrupted. For many people, this is the second experience of flooding this year.
In Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, relevant ministries are implementing preparedness, response, rescue and recovery efforts.
12 September: West Nile Virus (WNV) is commonly found in Africa, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. Cases of WNV in humans, caused by the bite of an infected mosquito, have also been recorded in Europe since the 1950s. WNV is most frequently transmitted to mosquitoes by migratory birds and horses. Warm, wet weather is likely to increase breeding grounds for the mosquitoes that serve as the virus vector. In recent years, human cases and outbreaks of WNV have been reported by many countries in the WHO European Region, several of which are reporting cases for the first time.
24 September: Like many other families living along the Danube, Linda and her family were forced to leave their home when devastating floods struck central Europe. The floodwaters, a result of slow-moving Storm Boris, wreaked havoc on the region, bringing the river to heights not seen in years.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
9 September: In episode 6 of Not If, But When, we ask, what are the challenges for the public health experts trying to apply the lessons of the last pandemic, and working to strengthen the global systems for preventing future ones?
We speak to Catherine Smallwood, former WHO Regional Office for Europe’s Senior Emergency Officer and Programme Manager (Emergency Operations), about the systems in place that guide health emergency preparedness and response.
We hear from Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme, about why, despite increasing and overlapping emergencies, he’s optimistic that the world will find ways to work together to combat global threats.
20 September: When disaster strikes, countries rely on highly skilled teams to support their communities’ immediate needs. Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), composed of doctors, paramedics and logistical experts, are crucial responders in crises across Europe and beyond.
In France, EMTs collaborate closely with WHO/Europe and play an essential role in global health security. Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Chapeau, the National EMT Focal Point for France, discusses the vital role of EMTs, their operations and the future of emergency medical response in the country.
WHO PUBLICATIONS
COVID-19
Weekly epidemiological update on COVID-19 - 9 October 2024
MPOX (MONKEYPOX)
Joint ECDC/ WHO mpox surveillance bulletin - 16 Oct 2024
Multi-country outbreak of mpox, External situation report#40 - 13 October 2024
UKRAINE EMERGENCY
War in Ukraine: situation report from WHO Country Office in Ukraine: issue No. 76, 21 June 2024
