Estimating the return of persons living with HIV/AIDS to New Orleans: methods for conducting disease surveillance in the wake of a natural disaster

Am J Public Health. 2008 Apr;98(4):666-8. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.110080. Epub 2008 Feb 28.

Abstract

Hurricane Katrina disrupted HIV/AIDS surveillance by invalidating the New Orleans, La, surveillance and population data on persons living with HIV/AIDS. We describe 2 methods--population return and HIV surveillance data--to estimate the return of the infected population to New Orleans. It is estimated that 58% to 64% of 7068 persons living with HIV/AIDS returned by summer 2006. Although developed for HIV planning, these methods could be used with other disease surveillance programs.

MeSH terms

  • Disasters*
  • Emigration and Immigration*
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • HIV Infections / transmission
  • Humans
  • Louisiana / epidemiology
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors