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Infectious Diseases as Socio‐Spatial Processes: The COVID‐19 Outbreak In Germany

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  • Andreas Kuebart
  • Martin Stabler

Abstract

This paper argues that outbreaks of infectious diseases should be understood as socio‐spatial processes with complex geographies. Considering the different dimensions of space through which an outbreak unfolds, facilitates analysing spatial diffusion of infectious disease in contemporary societies. We attempt to highlight four relevant dimensions of space by applying the TPSN framework to the case of the recent COVID‐19 outbreak in Germany. By identifying key processes of disease diffusion in space, we can explain the spatial patterns of the COVID‐19 outbreak in Germany, which did not feature the well‐known patterns of spatially contagious as in or hierarchical diffusion. In contrast, we find superspreading events and especially relocation diffusion based on existing networks, on which the pathogen travelled like a blind passenger, to be more relevant. For us, these findings prove the value of combining relational thinking with geographic analysis for understanding epidemic outbreaks in contemporary societies.

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  • Andreas Kuebart & Martin Stabler, 2020. "Infectious Diseases as Socio‐Spatial Processes: The COVID‐19 Outbreak In Germany," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 111(3), pages 482-496, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:tvecsg:v:111:y:2020:i:3:p:482-496
    DOI: 10.1111/tesg.12429
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gailing, Ludger & Bues, Andrea & Kern, Kristine & Röhring, Andreas, 2019. "Socio-spatial dimensions in energy transitions: Applying the TPSN framework to case studies in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 52(6), pages 1112-1130.
    2. Meike Wolf, 2016. "Rethinking Urban Epidemiology: Natures, Networks and Materialities," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(5), pages 958-982, September.
    3. Anssi Paasi & Jonathan Metzger, 2017. "Foregrounding the region," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(1), pages 19-30, January.
    4. J. O. Lloyd-Smith & S. J. Schreiber & P. E. Kopp & W. M. Getz, 2005. "Superspreading and the effect of individual variation on disease emergence," Nature, Nature, vol. 438(7066), pages 355-359, November.
    5. Cummins, Steven & Curtis, Sarah & Diez-Roux, Ana V. & Macintyre, Sally, 2007. "Understanding and representing 'place' in health research: A relational approach," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(9), pages 1825-1838, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. S. A. Tarkhov, 2021. "Geography of the Passenger Turnover Dynamics at Airports in Europe and Russia’s Regions in the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 11(4), pages 435-453, October.
    2. Kuebart, Andreas & Stabler, Martin, 2023. "Waves in time, but not in space – an analysis of pandemic severity of COVID-19 in Germany," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 47.

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