Progress and Challenges in Infectious Disease Cartography

Moritz U G Kraemer; Simon I Hay; David M Pigott; David L Smith; G R William Wint; Nick Golding

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2015.09.006

Progress and Challenges in Infectious Disease Cartography

Trends Parasitol. 2016 Jan;32(1):19-29. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.09.006. Epub 2015 Oct 23.

Authors

Moritz U G Kraemer¹, Simon I Hay², David M Pigott³, David L Smith⁴, G R William Wint⁵, Nick Golding⁶

Affiliations

¹ Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK. Electronic address: moritz.kraemer@zoo.ox.ac.uk.
² Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98121, USA; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220, USA.
³ Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK; Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.
⁴ Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK; Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2220, USA; Sanaria Institute for Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
⁵ Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK; Environmental Research Group Oxford (ERGO), Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
⁶ Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.

PMID: 26604163
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.09.006

Abstract

Quantitatively mapping the spatial distributions of infectious diseases is key to both investigating their epidemiology and identifying populations at risk of infection. Important advances in data quality and methodologies have allowed for better investigation of disease risk and its association with environmental factors. However, incorporating dynamic human behavioural processes in disease mapping remains challenging. For example, connectivity among human populations, a key driver of pathogen dispersal, has increased sharply over the past century, along with the availability of data derived from mobile phones and other dynamic data sources. Future work must be targeted towards the rapid updating and dissemination of appropriately designed disease maps to guide the public health community in reducing the global burden of infectious disease.

Keywords: disease modelling; human mobility; mapping; pathogen dispersal; spatial epidemiology.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Cell Phone
Communicable Diseases / epidemiology*
Epidemiologic Methods*
Epidemiology / standards
Epidemiology / trends*
Geographic Mapping*
Humans
Information Dissemination

Grants and funding

095066/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom