Modeling Interactions Between Vector-Borne Diseases and Environment Using GIS

Abstract

This book of modelling interactions between vector-borne diseases and the environment using geographic information system (GIS) methods fills many literature gaps. The book shows how GIS-based approaches provide innovative geographical methods with the capability of mapping and modelling such interactions with high accuracy. It shows how GISs can be used to merge satellite images with ground observations of vector demographics and disease incidence more accurately. It comes with the hope of increasing the ability of controlling the global prevalence of vector-borne diseases, such as dengue fever, malaria, and Rift Valley fever, which have increased dramatically in recent times, causing medical, environmental, and economic issues for most of the tropical and subtropical countries. Modelling interaction between vector-borne diseases and the environment using GISs increases understanding of the distribution of vector-borne disease incidence and vectors such as mosquitoes in time and space, which can be a major foundation for control and management programs for vector-borne diseases. The geographical methods used in this book show how knowledge of when and where disease cases and vectors occur enables the formulation of disease causation hypotheses for vectors and cases with unknown or poorly characterized aetiology, identification of areas at risk for disease, and design of efficient surveillance and control programs. These methods for modelling risks of diseases and vectors can also be implemented at local, country, and regional levels by vector-borne disease program managers, health officers and workers, and policy makers to ensure their optimal contribution to prevention, control, acceptance, and sustainability of programs. In addition, the book shows a variety of GIS implications in the planning of health interventions that can be used to enhance disease surveillance systems. It is useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers involved in epidemiological studies, particularly of vector-borne diseases, especially when they require the use of geographical modelling techniques in a GIS environment. The geographical modelling and analytical techniques described in this book are also valuable for researchers, workers, and students dealing with geographical data in the areas of entomology, environmental health, ecology, environmental science, public health, crime, geography, parasitological, and statistics. There is no doubt that GIS-based approaches will play a more significant role in such applications.