Public health responses to weather extremes

The countries of the WHO European Region are increasingly affected by weather and climate extremes (heat-waves, floods and droughts), which lead to fatalities and affect human health and well-being.

Effective prevention, preparedness and response planning are crucial to minimize health impacts of extreme weather events. Developing integrated surveillance systems can greatly enhance the capacity of health systems to prepare for and adapt to weather extremes and climate-sensitive diseases. Integrated surveillance involves the integration of multiple surveillance systems (e.g. disease surveillance and early warning systems) and helps in improving the use of information for detecting, investigating and responding to public health threats caused by extreme weather events.