How urbanization affects the epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases

Neiderud, Carl-Johan

T he industrial revolution in the 18th century led to larger cities with greater potential for growth and development both for the individual and the community. Living in a city can provide you with several advantages, such as the possibility for higher education, a new job with higher income, the security of better health care, and the safety of social services. In 2014, the United Nations estimated that 54% of the world's population, 3.9 billion, lived in urban centres (1) . Economic growth for countries has been linked to urbanization and countries with high per capita income are among the most urbanized, whereas countries with low per capita income are the least urbanized (2) . The financial and political power is often concentrated in the cities, which leads to unique possibilities for action and quick response if needed.