El Niño Impacts on Health  A recent update published by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society provides information on the emerging El Niño and its potential health impacts. Responding to growing concerns about El Niño from organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the IRI produced the document in order to give decision makers key recommendations on how to monitor communities at risk and take steps to reduce their vulnerability. It also provides links to valuable resources and IRI maps. IRI's Madeleine Thomson discusses the effects - good and bad - that the climate phenomenon could have on public health around the world in an audio interview (see right). This is the second in our series of audio interviews on El Niño. To hear the first, go to our recent story about El Niño Misconceptions. How can El NIño affect public health? Where does El Niño affect public health? Positive consequences of El Niño? How can we use seasonal forecasting in public health planning? For a complete list of resources about El Niño and La Niña, visit our ENSO web page. |