Back to Hurricane Season 2026: Hurricanes, Cyclones and Typhoons

Health

While devastating in their immediate impact, tropical cyclones also bring a wide range of health risks that can affect both travellers and local populations. Health risk mitigation should begin before departure, with travellers ensuring they are up to date on vaccinations, familiarising themselves with destination-specific health concerns and ensuring access to essential medications.

Once a tropical cyclone hits, the primary effects can be catastrophic, ranging from physical injuries to waterborne diseases. The aftermath can also lead to increased stress, anxiety and mental health challenges. Being aware of these potential health impacts, both physical and psychological, helps travellers avoid unnecessary risks.

Secondary health effects may persist for months. Following a tropical cyclone, conditions such as malaria, dengue fever and cholera may become more prevalent, while inadequate sanitation and overcrowded shelters can further exacerbate outbreaks. Prolonged exposure to damp conditions from water-damaged buildings can lead to respiratory issues, including asthma.

Medical supply chains and access to timely care can be significantly reduced in the aftermath of a tropical cyclone. Business travellers should proactively identify alternative care options, including assistance services coordinated through their travel insurance, corporate travel risk management programme, as well as telemedicine and remote medical support.

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Health Risk Mitigation

Mitigating health risks is a crucial part of pre-travel planning. It involves acknowledging potential threats and taking proactive measures to stay protected. Travellers should undergo a pre-travel medical examination to ensure they are up to date with all routine vaccinations and any destination-specific immunisations, ideally at least four to six weeks before departure. Health assessments should also consider mental well-being, as stress, anxiety and other mental health challenges can be intensified in unfamiliar environments.

How Can Travellers Best Prepare?

Here are some key recommendations to ensure a safe trip.

Check health requirements and be aware of health risks

Ensure all travellers review destination-specific health documentation requirements in advance. Provide information on potential health risks at their destination, including preventive measures and guidance on what to do in case of illness. Diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and other vector-borne illnesses are common in many regions, so appropriate precautions, such as vaccinations, mosquito repellents and protective clothing, should be taken.

Check medication regulations and plan for chronic conditions

Confirm whether essential medicines are available over the counter, require a prescription or are restricted at the destination to avoid any last-minute issues. Travelling with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease may require additional planning.

Bring necessary health records and have emergency contacts ready

Encourage travellers to carry a copy of their vaccination records to facilitate access to healthcare if needed. Keep a list of emergency contacts, including local healthcare facilities and pharmacies.

Pack a travel health kit

Ensure travellers carry prescription medications and essential health supplies, particularly those that may be difficult to source at the destination.

Obtain travel health insurance

Comprehensive travel health insurance, covering medical emergencies and potential evacuation, should be arranged before departure.

Consider medical evacuation options and prepare for emergencies

In some regions, advanced healthcare may not be accessible outside major cities. Plan accordingly for emergency care if necessary. Ensure that travellers have a clear contingency plan in place for unexpected situations, including health emergencies, flight disruptions, or border closures due to disease outbreaks.

Local healthcare navigation strategy

Before departure, travellers should identify appropriate healthcare options at their destination, including reputable private clinics, international medical facilities and emergency hospitals. Understanding when to rely on hotel assistance, insurance providers or embassy support can facilitate faster and more effective access to care in emergencies.

Stay updated on health advisories and use safety apps

Track travel health notices from organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United Kingdom’s National Travel Health Network and Centre (TravelHealthPro), Australia’s Smart Traveller and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Stay informed using mobile applications such as the US Department of State’s Smart Traveler app for real-time alerts.

Digital connectivity and access to remote care

Travellers should ensure reliable digital connectivity, including roaming or local data access, to support the use of telemedicine services, health applications and real-time alerts. Stable internet access is essential for maintaining communication with insurers, healthcare providers and emergency assistance services.

Maintain good hygiene and practise food and water safety

Emphasise proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Advise travellers to be mindful of foodborne illnesses in regions with lower food safety standards. Produce should be thoroughly washed and warnings about consuming tap water must be followed.

Early symptom recognition and escalation

Travellers should seek medical attention promptly if symptoms of illness arise, particularly after exposure to tropical environments. Early intervention is critical to prevent complications, especially in cases of fever, dehydration or suspected infectious disease.

Primary Health Effects

Each year, tropical cyclones cause thousands of deaths and significant damage to property and infrastructure. The WMO indicates that tropical cyclones were the leading cause of both reported human and economic losses between 1970 and 2021. Some 38 per cent of the two million reported deaths from natural disasters in the same period were caused by tropical cyclones. Over 90 percent of fatalities occurred in developing countries. While mortality rates have fallen thanks to early warning systems, reported economic losses are rising due to the increasing frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones and the expansion of settlement in areas most at risk from impact.

According to the WHO, the health impacts of tropical cyclones depend on the number of people living in low-lying coastal areas in the storm’s path, the state of infrastructure and whether there is sufficient time for warning and evacuation. While the latter has improved, there is a growing risk of storms striking areas that have historically been spared the breadth and intensity of past impacts. Major hurricanes hitting the US in recent years have caught residents unprepared and severely damaged infrastructure not built to withstand them.

Tropical cyclones can affect the health and well-being of individuals and can have catastrophic impacts on healthcare systems. Primary health impacts include physical trauma caused by strong winds, debris, landslides and storm surges, or drowning in floods caused by storm surge or extreme rainfall. Additionally, flood waters may contain sewage and chemicals, sharp objects and electrical lines, or host dangerous wildlife, all of which can cause infections, waterborne diseases, electrocution and other physical injuries.

Emergency situations are also associated with increasing mental health effects, such as stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hostility towards outsiders and looting may also occur in disaster areas. Travellers are at risk of being targeted for theft as well as possible detention by the authorities for not possessing residency, violating curfew or failing to obtain a permit to travel to or from the location. Monitoring local media and law enforcement bulletins will help travellers stay up to date with the latest developments. Such updates are often published on the social media pages of relevant agencies or accessed via an official application.

Acronyms:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
World Health Organisation (WHO)

Business travellers should anticipate these constraints and proactively identify alternative care options, such as private medical clinics, hotel-recommended providers and assistance services coordinated through their travel insurance or corporate travel risk management programme. Early contact with these services is recommended, as demand typically increases rapidly following a major weather event.

Secondary Health Effects

The health implications of tropical cyclones are often exacerbated by damage to critical infrastructure. Disruptions to power supplies and damage to roads inhibit emergency responses, while physical destruction of medical facilities can vastly restrict healthcare capabilities. Consequently, tropical cyclones may prompt an increase in all-cause mortality as general support and medical services are weakened.

Food insecurity: Tropical cyclones can also trigger food insecurity through immediate damage to agriculture and fishing infrastructure and long-term damage to local biodiversity. This poses a particular threat to developing countries, where food insecurity may often be a pre-existing issue and rebuilding efforts are heavily reliant on international aid.
Infectious diseases: The effects of tropical cyclones often increase the spread of infectious diseases for months after their initial impact. Across tropical countries, receding floodwaters may provide fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes, fuelling the spread of malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis (JEV). Where resources are in place, the risk can often be managed through prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment. However, when the crisis strikes less privileged areas, households are often required to cope on their own. Simultaneously, the destruction of local food and water supplies facilitates the spread of infectious diseases like cholera, melioidosis, impetigo and leptospirosis. Mass displacements due to residential damage also result in overcrowded emergency shelters, which allow diseases to thrive.
Mould hazard: Even after the complete passage of tropical cyclones, water-damaged buildings pose a lingering health hazard to occupants due to an increase in mould spores stemming from excessive dampness. Such conditions can result in the development and exacerbation of respiratory complications, including asthma. As persistent mould is more likely to plague older and less developed properties, excessive dampness presents a greater risk to poorer communities. Travellers should check the history of any long-term accommodation for past storm damage and repairs. Landlords should be prepared to provide this information upon request.

Healthcare Access and Continuity during Disruptions

In the aftermath of a tropical cyclone, healthcare systems are often disrupted by damaged infrastructure, overwhelmed facilities and interruptions to medical supply chains. Essential medicines may become limited and access to timely care can be significantly reduced, particularly in severely affected areas.

Where in-person care is limited, telemedicine and remote medical support can provide a critical continuity solution. Secure digital health platforms enable consultation with qualified medical professionals for diagnosis, prescriptions and follow-up care, helping to avoid unnecessary travel to overstretched facilities. Travellers should ensure that they have access to approved telehealth providers through their insurer or employer in advance.

Fitness to travel after illness or injury should be carefully assessed before resuming business activities or international travel. Factors such as infectious disease exposure, dehydration or physical trauma may require recovery time or medical clearance. Travellers should avoid returning to travel prematurely, as this may worsen their condition or delay recovery.

Contributors:

Eeva Ruuska and Nikita Billier

Editor:

Paul Mutter, Global Coverage Manager at Riskline

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