Modernization and Prevalence of Emerging Infectious Diseases: Investigating the Underlying Factors of the Occurrence and Epidemic of Covid-19 and Its Continuity

The purpose of this study was to investigate the most important factors in the occurrence and epidemic of emerging infectious diseases such as Covid-19 and their relationship with modernization and globalization based on the concepts presented in the sociological perspective of risky society Irish Beck and the demographic view of health transition. The research method is descriptive-analytical and based on existing documents. According to the findings, the most important reasons for occurrence of emerging infectious diseases is environmental change (climate change and global warming and deforestation), which is related to human interventions in nature. Urbanization, high density in cities, air pollution, the increase in migration and the growth of spatial mobility are also among the most important factors in the spread of diseases such as Covid-19. All these causes and factors are related to modernization, globalization and its risks. On the other hand, social, economic, health and geographical inequalities also play an important role in the continued presence of the Covid-19 epidemic within and between countries, especially in middle-income countries such as Iran. These inequalities have become more pronounced, especially after the discovery of the vaccine. Therefore, occurrence, global prevalence and differences between countries in this field can be explained with the risky society and the health transition approaches.