Journal article
Emerging infectious diseases: the role of social sciences
Popular and scientific representations of research into emerging infectious disease often focus on the pathogen itself—its molecular machinery, processes of reassortment and mutation, and how these factors indicate risk for human-to-human transmission. However, social and ecological processes that facilitate infection also deserve close attention, as emphasised in the LancetSeries on zoonoses.1—3 Present models of pathogen emergence and spread do not identify underlying drivers with sufficient clarity to allow effective prevention of disease. More robust models that encompass the complex interface between pathogen biology and human, vector, and reservoir behaviour are needed.4 These models should address causes of disease emergence, transmission, and spread that are linked to human behaviours, and the sociocultural and political systems that guide and constrain them. The social sciences are important for elaboration of causal assemblages and contextualisation of epidemiologically notable behaviours in social, economic, political, and cultural systems, and thereby contribute to effective behavioural and structural interventions
Languages
- English
Journal
The Lancet
Volume
9587
Type
Journal article
Categories
- Programme management
