This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stephens, K. U. Articles by Franklin, E. R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Stephens, K. U., Sr Articles by Franklin, E. R.

Excess Mortality in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: A Preliminary Report

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Kevin U. Stephens Sr, MD, JD, Director, New Orleans Health Department, 1300 Perdido St, Room 8E18, New Orleans, LA 70112 (e-mail: kustephens{at}cityofno.com).

Background: Reports that death notices in the Times-Picayune, the New Orleans daily newspaper, increased dramatically in 2006 prompted local health officials to determine whether death notice surveillance could serve as a valid alternative means to confirm suspicions of excess mortality requiring immediate preventive actions and intervention.

Methods: Monthly totals of death notices from the Times-Picayune were used to obtain frequency and proportion of deaths from January to June 2006. To validate this methodology the authors compared 2002 to 2003 monthly death frequency and proportions between death notices and top 10 causes of death from state vital statistics.

Results: A significant (47%) increase in proportion of deaths was seen compared with the known baseline population. From January to June 2006, there were on average 1317 deaths notices per month for a mortality rate of 91.37 deaths per 100,000 population, compared with a 2002–2004 average of 924 deaths per month for a mortality rate of 62.17 deaths per 100,000 population. Differences between 2002 and 2003 death notices and top 10 causes of death were insignificant and had high correlation.

Discussion: Death notices from local daily newspaper sources may serve as an alternative source of mortality information. Problems with delayed reporting, timely analysis, and interoperability between state and local health departments may be solved by the implementation of electronic death registration.

Key Words: excess mortality • natural disasters • hurricane Katrina • public health system • death notice surveillance • mortality data • health statistics

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. J. Lavie, T. C. Gerber, and W. L. Lanier Hurricane Katrina: The Infarcts Beyond the Storm Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness, October 1, 2009; 3(3): 131 - 135. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Brunkard, G. Namulanda, and R. Ratard Hurricane Katrina Deaths, Louisiana, 2005 Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness, December 1, 2008; 2(4): 215 - 223. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Gray Long-term health effects of flooding J Public Health, December 1, 2008; 30(4): 353 - 354. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. R. Klein, P. E. Pepe, F. M. Burkle Jr, N. E. Nagel, and R. E. Swienton Evolving Need for Alternative Triage Management in Public Health Emergencies: A Hurricane Katrina Case Study Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness, September 1, 2008; 2(Supplement_1): S40 - S44. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. K. Khoo and S. A. Smith After Katrina: Quality of Life Among New Orleans Residents With Diabetes Mayo Clin. Proc., May 1, 2008; 83(5): 601 - 601. [Full Text] [PDF]