Integrating Behavioural Science and #Epidemiology to Improve Early #Detection of Zoonotic #Swine #Influenza in the #Netherlands
Abstract Background and Objectives : The Netherlands faces zoonotic disease risks due to its dense human and livestock populations . The 2009 H1N1 outbreak highlighted the pandemic potential of influenza virus reassortment. Effective preparedness requires integrating behavioural and epidemiological models . Human behaviour, shaped by personal, social, and institutional factors , is critical in detecting, intervening, and treating diseases. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), a framework was developed integrating knowledge from the TPB to improve early detection and response, using (zoonotic) swine influenza as a case study. Material and Methods : Within the framework we defined the desired outcome : timely detection and notification of symptomatic (and hypothetical zoonotic) swine influenza to prevent its spread. Actions, such as symptom recognition and disease reporting, were linked to key drivers extracted from the TPB and disease transmission modelling. Exp...