Ecological theory to enhance infectious disease control and public health policy

Abstract

Through the work of international public health organizations and advancements in the biological and technological sciences, substantial progress has been made in our ability to prevent, control, locally eliminate, and in one case eradicate infectious diseases. Yet each successful control or local elimination has been met with the emergence of new pathogens, the evolution of novel strains, or different epidemiological circumstances that have limited or reversed control methods. To respond to the increasing threat of emerging infectious diseases and bioterrorism it is vital that we design and implement efficient programs that prevent and control infectious pathogen transmission. The theoretical tools of ecology and epidemiology may be the cornerstone in constructing future programs aimed at preventing and controlling infectious diseases throughout the world.

Figure 1

Burning cattle infected with foot and mouth disease.

Figure 2

Number of infected farms during the 2001 UK foot and mouth epidemic and the point at which the culling of infected herds and movement restrictions began. Adapted from Keeling et al. 2001.

Figure 3

Statistical characterization of the time to first appearance of raccoon rabies in the State of New York. Color bands depict the spread of rabies across the state, where blue represents the first occurrences of rabies and white denotes regions free from the disease. Band width represents the velocity of the wave front. Narrow bands represent slow spread and wide bands represent fast spread.