Infectious disease as disaster.

Epidemics of infectious disease have not usually been considered as natural disasters in that epidemics normally produce an explosive outburst of illness and/or deaths sharply concentrated in time and space which engenders a marked reaction in attitudes and behaviour, they would seem to meet most of the standard definitional criteria of natural disasters. Epidemics, like other disasters also tend to be more prevalent and have greatest severity where people occupy vulnerable social postions. Epidemics tend to differ from other disasters in at least two important ways. They tend to accentuate and magnify pre-existing divisions within society and highlight latent tensions and antagonisms. Secondly, because of the universal commonplace nature of epidemics there can be some continuity and development of social response. This report outlines natural disasters in the form of epidemics, concentrating specifically on the Australian scene.