The Role of Urban Planning in the Spread of Communicable Diseases

Abstract

19th-century urban areas were defined by rapid population growth and industrialization that created filthy living conditions and poor health outcomes. Despite dramatic improvements to living conditions, cities remain a hotbed for the spread of communicable diseases. This paper seeks to highlight planning processes and actions – with a focus on urbanization, globalization, and land use planning – in order to show the impact urban planners can have on preventing the spread of diseases including cholera, the Spanish Flu of 1918, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and Ebola Viral Disease (EVD). Cities would not exist without the people who inhabit them; therefore it is imperative that city planners prioritize the health of residents.