Urbanisation and Infectious Diseases in a Globalised World

Author(s)
Alirol, E. et al.
Publication language
English
Pages
11pp
Date published
01 Feb 2011
Publisher
Lancet Infectious Diseases Vol. 11
Type
Articles
Keywords
Disasters, Epidemics & pandemics, Urban

The world is becoming urban. The UN predicts that the world's urban population will almost double from 3·3 billion in 2007 to 6·3 billion in 2050. Most of this increase will be in developing countries. Exponential urban growth is having a profound effect on global health. Because of international travel and migration, cities are becoming important hubs for the transmission of infectious diseases, as shown by recent pandemics. Physicians in urban environments in developing and developed countries need to be aware of the changes in infectious diseases associated with urbanisation. Furthermore, health should be a major consideration in town planning to ensure urbanisation works to reduce the burden of infectious diseases in the future.