Abstract:
During public health emergencies, people need to know what health risks they face, and what actions they
can take to protect their health and lives. Accurate information provided early, often, and in languages
and channels that people understand, trust, and use, enables individuals to make choices and take
actions to protect themselves, their families, and their communities from threatening health hazards. Risk
communication is an integral part of any emergency response. It is the real-time exchange of information,
advice, and opinions between experts, community leaders, or officials and the people who are at risk.
During health threat emergencies, effective risk communication allows people most at risk to understand
and adopt protective behaviors. It allows authorities and experts to listen to and address people’s concerns
and needs so that the advice they provide is relevant, trusted, and acceptable.
