via University of Lincoln
New research highlights how urban expansion is creating the conditions for infectious diseases to emerge and spread around the world by blurring the classical boundaries between city, suburb, and countryside.
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Lincoln, UK, and York University, Canada, investigated how the global trend towards urbanisation has contributed to the rise in the total number of disease outbreaks per decade since the 1980s.
Their study, a major literature review published in the academic journal Urban Studies, shows that urban expansion at the periphery of cities – sometimes called ‘extended urbanisation’- is fundamentally altering the spatial relationships which shape how millions of people live and interact with each other and with nature. In doing so, it is creating ´new ecological niches’ for the spread of infectious diseases, the researchers warn.
Rapid urbanisation, particularly in developing nations of Asia and Africa, is creating fluid relationships between urban and rural environments with populations drawn to new types of suburban settlements on the periphery of cities. These might be in the shape of suburban neighbourhoods, informal self-built settlements, refugee camps, or communities of workers living near mines or factories.
These suburban and ‘peri-urban’ areas are more likely than cities to be the source of new and re-emerging infectious diseases, the study explains. They are particularly vulnerable to diseases that jump the animal-to-human boundary (zoonosis), as they bring populations of humans and livestock into contact with displaced wildlife in a manner that does not happen in cities. They are often densely populated, poorly planned, lacking health infrastructure and out of sight of government authorities. Significantly for public health policy, they also serve as a conduit between city and countryside – making municipal, regional and even national boundaries effectively ´porous’.
The recent SARS and Ebola outbreaks are high profile examples of epidemics which originated in these new types of suburban hinterland before spreading into larger, established cities.
The researchers say this structural weak spot to infectious disease outbreaks has largely been overlooked in academic studies of the epidemiology of global urbanisation, which instead have tended to focus on health inequalities linked with urban poverty, such as diseases caused by obesity.
The researchers set out three key dimensions to understanding the link between urbanisation and infectious disease risk: the dynamics of population change, infrastructure and governance. They say further interdisciplinary research is needed in these fields – especially as the world responds to the current COVID-19 pandemic which first emerged in Wuhan, China, in December.
Without improved understanding, public health policymakers locally, nationally and internationally will be ill-equipped to identify and mitigate the heightened risk of infectious disease outbreaks posed by suburban sprawl.
Dr Creighton Connolly, an urban geographer from the School of Geography at the University of Lincoln and lead author of the paper, said: “Economic growth, changing labour markets and conflicts are driving urban expansion and migration from rural-to-urban in developing countries at unprecedented pace.
“Improved transport infrastructure has cut journey times between countryside, suburbs and cities from days to hours. However the infrastructure vital for good public health, like health clinics and clean water, often lags behind.
“Governance – particularly the mechanics for responding rapidly to disease outbreaks – are also weaker in these fringe communities in the so-called ‘urban shadow’ compared to established towns and cities, as jurisdictional responsibilities are often blurred.”
The researchers conclude that better understanding of the changing spatial relationships between cities, suburbs and countryside, the factors that shape these changes, and effective ways to adapt to them, will be key to reducing the risk of future outbreaks of infectious diseases and limiting their spread when outbreaks do occur.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Infectious diseases
- China's disease control and prevention authority warns of increasing risks of infectious diseases during the approaching May Day holidays
China's disease control and prevention authority has recently warned of increasing risks of the spread of infectious diseases during the approaching May Day holidays and reminded localities to persist ...
- Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics Presents New Data on its Best-In-Class Infectious Disease Vaccine and Antibody Portfolio at ECCMID 2024
Longhorn Vaccines and Diagnostics, a One Health company developing vaccines and diagnostic tools for global public health and zoonosis concerns, presented positive data from three key studies of its ...
- Cases of infectious diseases likely to surge in Dharwad district
Hubballi: As the temperature rises day by day in summer, the number of cases of infectious diseases is increasing.
- As ticks spread, the US is getting smart about reporting infections and seeing the true extent of Lyme disease
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — the federal agency that monitors diseases and establishes guidelines to protect human health — published a paper in February that shows cases of ...
- Owlstone secures $6.5M for breath-based diagnostics for infectious disease
Owlstone Medical has secured a $5 million equity investment and initial $1.5 million grant funding, committed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for development of breath-based diagnostic ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Infectious diseases
[google_news title=”” keyword=”infectious diseases” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Disease outbreaks
- Cuyahoga County Board of Health reports mpox outbreak: Here's what you need to know
Those who believe that they may have been directly exposed to mpox are advised to get tested as soon as possible.' ...
- Avian flu has spread to cows, milk — and experts worry human outbreak could be next
So far, culling infected flocks hasn't been enough to curtail the virus, identified Wednesday in another Michigan commercial poultry facility.
- DRC is seeing its worst mpox outbreak — but has no vaccines or treatments yet. Why?
With nearly 5,000 cases reported so far this year — and concerns about a new strain — the Democratic Republic of Congo is considering the declaration of a public health emergency.
- Nearly 200 people sick in norovirus outbreaks on Princess, Royal Caribbean ships
Nearly 200 people got sick in norovirus outbreaks on Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International ships.
- Heatwave Multiplies Gaza’s Misery, Hunger, and Disease Risk
The blazing heat across Gaza has magnified the misery faced by displaced people and renewed fears of disease for lack of clean water and waste disposal.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Disease outbreaks
[google_news title=”” keyword=”disease outbreaks” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]