Health Risk Archives - Disasters News

Apr172025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

WHO Extends Travel Restrictions on Pakistan as Polio Concerns Rise in Virus Spread

The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended international travel restrictions on Pakistan for another three months due to the ongoing threat of polio particularly in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan. Despite notable progress in Pakistan anti-polio efforts the virus continues to spread raising global alarm over its potential resurgence. This decision follows the WHO Emergency Committee 41st meeting on March 6, during which experts reviewed polio trends and the performance of affected countries. While acknowledging Pakistan intensified efforts and vaccination campaigns WHO officials highlighted significant gaps in virus containment especially at provincial and district levels. The most pressing concern is the surge in polio-positive environmental samples. In...

Apr82025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

wildfire Smoke Linked to Surge in Mental Health Emergencies harvard study finds

Breaking News, Climate Actions

Exposure to fine particulate air pollution from wildfire smoke is not only damaging to lungs and hearts it’s also harming mental health. according to a new study led by researchers at the harvard t.h. chan school of public health, short-term exposure to wildfire-specific pm2.5 has been linked to increased emergency room visits for mental health conditions across california. kari nadeau study’s senior author and chair of the department of environmental health “wildfire smoke isn’t just a respiratory issue it affects mental health, too our study suggests that smoke itself, in addition to the trauma wildfires cause, may directly worsen conditions like depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.” Study to isolate the specific effects of wildfire-related pm2.5 on mental health. while previou...

Apr42025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

L.A Wildfires Leave 700,000 Children Displaced from Schools Experts Urge Urgent Focus on Mental Health

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Fact Check

The devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January 2025 destroyed more than 15,000 buildings in just a few days. Among them were 11 schools and 30 child care centers. As a result, over 700,000 children had their education and daily routines suddenly disrupted. The fires started on January 7 in Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon, near Altadena. Strong winds pushed the flames through neighborhoods, making it one of California’s five worst wildfires ever. While much of the news focused on property damage and loss of life, the challenges faced by children after the disaster received very little attention. Two experts from the University of Southern California one a disaster epidemiologist, the other a disaster planner say that when a disaster hits your own community, it ...

Mar202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

India Records Earliest Heatwave and Warm Nights in 2025 Break 125 Year Old Records

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

India has recorded its earliest heatwave and warm nights in 2025, marking a concerning trend in rising temperatures. On February 25, 2025, Goa and Maharashtra experienced the first heatwave of the year making it the first time a heatwave has been recorded during winter (January–February) according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). IMD also confirmed that February 2025 was the hottest February in 125 years. The impact of extreme temperatures has been felt in Odisha and Jharkhand which recorded their earliest heatwaves in four years. On March 15 Odisha’s Boudh registered the highest temperature in India, reaching 43.6°C on March 16. Jharsuguda followed with 42°C, while Bolangir recorded 41.7°C. These extreme heat conditions arrived much earlier than in previous years indicatin...

Mar202025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Smoke from Wildland Urban Fires Poses Greater Health Risk Than Remote Wildfires

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Smoke from fires that rage through wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas where human development meets wildland vegetation has a significantly higher health impact than smoke from wildfires in remote areas, according to a groundbreaking study published in Science Advances. The research, led by scientists at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research (NSF NCAR), reveals that emissions from WUI fires are about three times more likely to contribute to premature deaths annually than emissions from wildfires in general. The reason: WUI fires burn closer to populated areas, exposing more people to harmful pollutants like fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone. Rising Risk of WUI Fires The wildland-urban interface has been expanding globally, now...