Configuring Contagion: Ethnographies of Biosocial Epidemics

This book explores the concept of biosocial epidemics, which broaden our understanding of contagion beyond infection and pandemics. It emphasizes the role of social inequality in the formation of epidemics and highlights the selective and biosocially structured nature of these events. Understanding biosocial factors is essential for developing effective strategies for epidemic containment.

Format: Hardback
Length: 274 pages
Publication date: 11 February 2022
Publisher: Berghahn Books

This book delves into the realm of contagion, expanding our understanding beyond the traditional concepts of infection and pandemics. It broadens the scope to encompass the concept of biosocial epidemics, recognizing the interplay between social and biological factors in the emergence and spread of diseases. Within its pages, the chapters present diverse and intricate explanations regarding the contagious potential of specific infections and non-infectious conditions. Collectively, they explore the intricate connections between social and biological processes, emphasizing how they shape co-existing influences and ultimately give rise to epidemics. The authors compellingly demonstrate that epidemics do not unfold uniformly across populations or through mere coincidental biological contagion. Instead, they are biosocially structured and selective, occurring under specific economic, political, and environmental conditions. This volume serves as a powerful illustration of the significance of understanding biosocial factors in developing effective strategies for containing epidemics. By delving into these complex dynamics, it sheds light on the importance of a holistic approach that considers both social and biological dimensions in addressing public health challenges.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800733046