Expanding our understanding of contagion beyond the typical notions of
infection and pandemics, this book widens the field to include the
concept of biosocial epidemics. The chapters propose varied and detailed
answers to questions about epidemics and their contagious potential for
specific infections and non-infectious conditions. Together they explore
how inseparable social and biological processes configure co-existing
influences, which create epidemics, and in doing so stress the role of
social inequality in these processes. The authors compellingly show that
epidemics do not spread evenly in populations or through simple
coincidental biological contagion: they are biosocially structured and
selective, and happen under specific economic, political and
environmental conditions. This volume illustrates that an understanding
of biosocial factors is vital for ensuring effective strategies for the
containment of epidemics.