Here is another example of how different public health and other disciplines combine to understand diseases, a first step to eliminating them from our communities. In this case, links between geography, epidemiology and technology help track the spread of disease around the world.
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Geography of Health: Patterns of Disease
Conclusion copied from the websiteThis tutorial has looked at the links between geography and epidemiology. In particular, it has explored the factors influencing the timing and spread of infectious diseases.
While the epidemiologist looks to provide details of the progress of a disease in a certain area, a geographer attempts to identify the factors influencing this pattern. These include human and physical aspects, such as population and climate.
In order to make comparisons between different situations, geography uses models to simplify reality. By isolating a few important factors, a model can enhance the understanding of rates of infection and of the progress of epidemics.
Prediction, a vital aspect of planning our defences against diseases such as influenza or measles, is thus made easier.
