A new social sciences network for infectious threats

Abstract

The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to escalate, new outbreaks of Lassa fever, yellow fever, measles, and other infectious diseases erupt around the world, and antimicrobial resistance intensifies from unmanaged use of these drugs. These infectious threats are intertwined with political and economic instability, changing ecological conditions, livestock management and food production practices, and local communities and their marginalised populations. The challenge in addressing these health security threats surpasses conventional response strategies. National governments and international agencies struggle to understand popular reactions to infectious disease emergence and outbreaks and to control deadly diseases.