The current COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. But it is not the biological characteristics of the virus that are most dangerous. Rather, it is how people behave towards it that really matters.
Iâm a biological anthropologist interested in how humans influence and adapt to changing environmental conditions. As part of my work, I look at the risks posed to peopleâs health when healthcare systems are disrupted or overrun by conflict, disasters and emergencies.
COVID-19 has shown it has the ability to overwhelm healthcare systems around the world. So how people behave in response to the real and perceived risks they face is a key factor in tackling the pandemic. Indeed, history shows that behavioural factors can play a large part in slowing and stopping disease spread.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognises the value of human behaviour in managing pandemics. Its Outbreak Communications Planning Guide suggests behaviour changes can reduce the spread by as much as 80%. This can mean the difference between healthcare sectors being overwhelmed or continuing to function....
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