How urbanization affects the epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases

Neiderud, Carl-Johan

The process of urbanization refers to increased movement and settling of people in urban surroundings (3) . However, the meaning of the word 'urban' does not have a universal definition. A wide variety of different interpretations can be found in various countries, and often they do not share the same understanding. Different versions could be: living in the capital, economic activities in the region, population size, or even density. The lack of a universal definition makes it hard to compare different countries and cities in regard to public health and the burden and impact of infectious diseases (4) . Many of the studies conducted address the differences between urban and rural areas, and do not compare different urban settings. It can thus be difficult to get a global overview and get a better understanding of the burden of infectious diseases in these specific environments. Cities from around the world can also be very heterogeneous and the local diseases and health challenges can greatly differ. The challenges for one city can be completely different for another location (5) .