public health crisis
Widespread health emergency
A public health crisis is a situation that poses an immediate, widespread threat to the health of a population—an epidemic, contaminated water supply, or surge in overdose deaths.
The term implies urgency and often triggers emergency government response: The opioid epidemic has become a public health crisis.
Officials sometimes declare a public health crisis to unlock funding or justify extraordinary measures.
- Minamata diseaseNeurological mercury poisoning condition
- mortality ratesDeaths per population measured
- social inequalityUneven distribution of opportunity
- bioterrorismWeaponized infectious agents
- water contaminationHarmful substances in drinking supply
food insecurity · pandemics · infectious diseases · flatten the curve · quarantine measures · social distancing · contact tracing · climate change · resource scarcity · policy reform · early warning systems · economic disruption · natural disasters · emergency funding · state of emergency · environmental pollution · vaccination campaigns · mask
- emergencies911, ambulance, emergency, emergency room, ER
- addictionaddiction, drug addiction, substance abuse, drug dependence, substance dependency
public health crisisherd immunity
Widespread resistance protecting all
disease eradication · health security · health equity · sanitary conditions · clean bill of health