Hurricanes and child health: lessons from Cuba

Miranda DS, Choonara I. Arch Dis Child (2010). doi:10.1136/adc.2009.178145 1 of 2 HURRICANES A hurricane is a large rotating storm with a central area of very low pressure and strong winds greater than 74 mph (118 km/h). 1 The hurricane is graded 1–5 in relation to the strength of the winds, which can be greater than 155 mph (249 km/h, category 5). 2 Hurricanes arise from warm, moist air from tropical oceans, and with global warming, hurricanes are occurring more frequently and with greater severity. 3 Tropical storms originating in the Atlantic Ocean or the Eastern North Pacifi c Ocean (ie, the Northern hemisphere) are termed hurricanes, whereas those that originate from the Pacifi c Ocean are known as typhoons and those from the Indian Ocean as cyclones. 1 Hurricanes are a major problem for countries in the Caribbean and Central and Latin America. The word ‘hurricane’ is thought to be derived from either the Carib god ‘Hurican’ or the Mayan god ‘Hurakan,’ who caused a great storm and fl ood by blowing his breath across the ocean. 4