title: Introduction: why a Sociology of Pandemics?
abstract: Infectious disease has re-emerged as a public health threat in an increasingly globalised era, adding trans-national actors to traditional national and local government actors. This special issue showcases new sociological work in response to this challenge. The contributors have investigated the social construction of new and re-emerging diseases; the development of surveillance systems, public health governance; the impact of scientific/technical modalities on uncertainty and risk, the interplay of infectious disease, public health and national security concerns, and public and media responses. The case studies range broadly across North America, Europe and Asia and define new agendas for medical sociologists and public health policymakers.
authors.affiliation: Dingwall Enterprises and School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, UK. robert.dingwall@ntlworld.com
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dingwall
authors.forename: Lily M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Staniland
mesh_terms: D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014943:Global Health; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008402:Mass Media; D058873:Pandemics; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011593:Psychology, Social; D011634:Public Health / Q000941:ethics / Q000592:standards; D012308:Risk Management; D012962:Sociology, Medical; D000078329:Workforce