Objectives: Extreme Weather Events (EWEs) are increasingly frequent in the United Kingdom (UK) and can lead to adverse health outcomes, resulting in additional pressure on the NHS. The aim of this review is to investigate the health impacts of EWEs on the population in the UK, through an economic lens.Methods: A systematic review of the evidence was conducted. Seven databases were searched for studies related to the public health outcomes of EWEs.Results: 48 papers met inclusion criteria: 22 flood, 25 extreme temperature, one wind. Three themes emerged: physical health impacts (predominantly temperature extremes); mental health impacts (predominantly flood-related) and socio-economic considerations (EWEs experienced disproportionately by marginalised populations).Conclusion: Whilst there is a substantial body of research on physical and mental health impacts of EWEs in the UK, there is limited evidence on socio-economic impacts, and little consideration of the economic costs. Building resilience against the health impacts of EWEs is essential. Future studies should consider incorporating cost-benefit analyses (CBA) to investigate the economic costs of EWEs on populations and health systems in the UK, and of potential mitigation efforts.

Background: Global food insecurity is associated with micronutrient deficiencies and it has been suggested that 4.5 billion people world-wide are affected by deficiencies in iron, vitamin A and iodine. Zinc has also been identified to be of increasing concern. The most vulnerable are young children and women of childbearing age. A pilot study has been carried out in Southern Malawi, to attempt to link the geochemical and agricultural basis of micronutrient supply through spatial variability to maternal health and associated cultural and social aspects of nutrition. The aim is to establish the opportunity for concerted action to deliver step change improvements in the nutrition of developing countries. Results: Field work undertaken in August 2007 and July/August 2008 involved the collection of blood, soil and crop samples, and questionnaires from ~100 pregnant women. Complex permissions and authorisation protocols were identified and found to be as much part of the cultural and social context of the work as the complexity of the interdisciplinary project. These issues are catalogued and discussed. A preliminary spatial evaluation is presented linking soil quality and food production to nutritional health. It also considers behavioural and cultural attitudes of women and children in two regions of southern Malawi, (the Shire Valley and Shire Highlands plateau). Differences in agricultural practice and widely varying soil quality (e.g. pH organic matter, C/N and metal content) were observed for both regions and full chemical analysis of soil and food is underway. Early assessment of blood data suggests major differences in health and nutritional status between the two regions. Differences in food availability and type and observations of life style are being evaluated through questionnaire analysis. Conclusion: The particular emphasis of the study is on the interdisciplinary opportunities and the barriers to progress in development support in subsistence communities. Engaging at the community level and the balance of expectations from both study subjects and research team highlight the merit of careful and detailed planning and project delivery.

This study aims to develop, implement, and evaluate an Early Warning System (EWS) to alert communities and government agencies in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about extreme weather events (EWEs) and related disease outbreaks. The project focuses on eThekwini and Ugu municipalities, using a participatory, co-creation approach with communities and health providers. A systematic review will be undertaken to understand the impact of climate change on disease outbreaks and design an EWS that integrates data from rural and urban healthcare and environmental contexts. It will assess disease burden at primary healthcare clinics, examine health needs and community experiences during EWEs, and evaluate health system resilience. The project will also evaluate the design, development, and performance of the EWS intervention, including its implementation costs. Ethical approval will be sought, and informed consent obtained from participants. Based on the findings, recommendations will be made to the Department of Health to enhance early warning systems and health system resilience in response to EWEs and disease outbreaks.