Natural disasters do far more than immediate damage. The effects of these disasters can be long lasting and creates a need for volunteers to help with the recovery.

Earthquakes, hurricanes, wildfires, the list is long when it comes to disasters requiring volunteer response. For foreign volunteers and locals effected by the disaster, disease is just one more risk that comes from the event. In every area of the world, a natural disaster increases the chances of disease.

The World Health Organization started a campaign in 2013 to monitor vaccines and diseases during natural disasters. Along with the Center for Disease Control, the WHO hopes this plan will be implemented as a part of aid efforts in response to disasters.

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France now poses a risk for chikungunya.

The World Health Organization confirmed four cases of the mosquito-borne disease in south eastern France on Friday. Including the nine other possible cases, the WHO fears at least 13 people are infected with chikungunya.

While four confirmed cases may seem small, mosquito-borne diseases are not native to the region. This continues a trend of mosquito-borne disease that are becoming more frequent throughout parts of Europe.

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The polio epidemic in the U.S. was far-reaching with widespread consequences. Touching the lives of all citizens, the disease even reached the highest levels of the government. The most notable of these was the 32nd American president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

The polio epidemic began in the U.S. around 1916. The initial outbreak in New York led to 27,000 cases and 6,000 deaths by the end of that year.

With no vaccine, polio continued to affect communities across the U.S. for the next several decades. While many who contracted polio did not show symptoms, cases often ended tragically. This could be as small as muscle aches or a fever, but sometimes meant paralysis or death.

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While the meningitis vaccine is crucial for health during college, this post does not mention all available vaccines for the disease. A separate vaccine is recommended to protect against the meningitis B strain. The routine meningitis immunization does help prevent the A, C, W and Y strains, but a different vaccine is needed for meningitis B.

The meningitis B vaccine is fairly new, but is recommended for anyone between the ages of 16 and 23. The meningitis B vaccine is available at all Passport Health clinics.

College can be a scary first experience for freshman. New school, new friends, new living arrangements and new exposures to health risks. In locations across the United States, meningitis outbreaks have hit colleges and other schools.

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The world is constantly struggling to get ready for the next epidemic.

Currently there are different methods in place to track outbreaks. This allows the world to pinpoint where outbreaks happen and where they might strike next. But, we still doesn’t have tools in place to handle an epidemic once it starts.

It’s no coincidence that there are multiple devastating outbreaks every year. According to Time, annual disease epidemics have tripled since 1980. The number of new diseases have also seen a significant spike over that time and deadly viruses are on the rise across the globe. From MERS in the Middle East to Ebola in West Africa, travel warnings are all we have to stop future outbreaks.

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