Gaza: H5N1 Influenza and Population Density

A recent ProMED posting (Avian influenza (80): Palestinian Auth (GZ) HPAI H5N1, spread, RFI) states that, “The Gaza strip is one of the most dense[ly] populated territories on earth.” Sadly, this talking point is inaccurate, but obsessively repeated in the media for the sole purpose of de-legitimizing Israel. The population density of Gaza is 5,046 inhabitants per sq km. Compare this to Boston (5,115 per sq km). Indeed, the Israeli town of Sderot, the prime target for bombs and missiles from Gaza, boasts 5,367 inhabitants per sq km. Needless to say, scores of other regions and cities in Asia are far more crowded than Gaza. Gaza City, has the highest population density within the Gaza Strip itself, with 11,456 per sq km. But my own city, Ramat Gan, exceeds even this number, with 11,971 per sq km. Despite their higher population densities, Boston and Ramat Gan have not experienced H5N1 influenza; indeed, population numbers are not relevant to this strain, since human-to-human transmission is rare.
Source: GIDEON blog - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Epidemiology ProMED Source Type: blogs