Citation

Miller RE. Int. Q. Community Health Educ. 2006; 26(3): 307-317.

Affiliation

School of Recreation, Health and Tourism, George Mason University, Virginia 20110, USA. emiller@gmu.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.2190/IQ.26.3.g

PMID

17827097

Abstract

Eco-epidemiology is a promising model for cross-disciplinary anti-terrorism. Derived from epidemiology's dominance of agents to illness and injury, the eco-epidemiological paradigm considers natural systems that generate causal pathways to disease and dynamic morbidity. Within this model is a hierarchy of systems interconnecting at biological, human, and social levels. Eco-epidemiology capitalizes on interacting components within and between system levels to identify contact patterns and apply mechanisms of control. Considering the complex and paradoxical nature of the threat-fear dynamic, a systematic, ecological approach would be more adaptive to terrorism's changing rules of engagement. To counter terrorism and nullify threat-fear, eco-epidemiology must be shared by public health researchers with threat assessment and harm reduction disciplines.

Language: en