49.7 F
Washington D.C.
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Report: Urbanization and Air Travel Leading to Growing Risk of Pandemic

Increased arrivals by air and urbanisation are the two main factors leading to a growing vulnerability to pandemics in our cities, a University of Sydney research team has found.

Led by the Centre for Complex Systems and the Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, the multidisciplinary team found these were two key reasons for an increase in severe  trends—and they fear that local population growth is outstripping the capacity of urban infrastructure to deal with disease outbreaks.

“Air travel and Australians’ growing propensity to live near airports is increasing our population’s susceptibility to contagions, which has a significant impact on our health services, crisis response and pandemic preparedness,” said Professor Mikhail Prokopenko, Director of the Complex Systems Research Group.

“The Australian Census has provided comprehensive data with which to calibrate a nation-level model of pandemic  spread and investigate the population’s vulnerability to the contagion over a period of rapid urbanisation,” said Professor Prokopenko.

Read more at Medical Xpress

Report: Urbanization and Air Travel Leading to Growing Risk of Pandemic Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

Related Articles

Latest Articles