Public health emergencies & the human cost of war

A common thread of public health emergencies exists in war, conflict, and large-scale natural disasters. Data from internal wars of the late 20th and early 21st century illustrate the importance of indirect mortality and morbidity in war that increases after the conflict has ended and may not reach a pre-war baseline for up to a decade. The most common long-term victims of these public health emergencies are children, women and those with mental health and psychosocial problems. Epidemiological data sets for war in developed, developing, and chronic-smoldering country models will be reviewed and similar public health emergencies are described for modern day large-scale natural disasters. Current trends that impact the future of public health are described.