In an examination of epidemiology and social time, this paper argues that the time perspective should he an important consideration within epidemiology. 'Time' is an element to which this field devotes little theoretical attention, although it is present as a pan of epidemiology's main concepts. Drawing from history and geography, the text offers historical notes on social time as imposed by globalized capitalism and its implications regarding the health of human populations. The speed/temporal acceleration of contemporary societies and their relationships to emerging infections is discussed. Lastly, the paper presents some critical considerations regarding the concepts of social time and of a probable epidemio logical time.
epidemiology; social time; emerging infections diseases