Mapping environmental susceptibility to Saint Louis encephalitis virus, based on a decision tree model of remotelysensed data

Rotela, Camilo H. and Spinsanti, Lorena I. and Lamfri, Mario A. and Contigiani, Marta S. and Almirón, Walter R. and Scavuzzo, Carlos M. (2011) Mapping environmental susceptibility to Saint Louis encephalitis virus, based on a decision tree model of remotelysensed data. Geospatial health , 6 (1). pp. 85-94. ISSN 1970-7096

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Abstract

In response to the first human outbreak (January - May 2005) of Saint Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus in Córdoba province, Argentina, we developed an environmental SLE virus risk map for the capital, i.e. Córdoba city. The aim was to provide a map capable of detecting macro-environmental factors associated with the spatial distribution of SLE cases, based on remotely sensed data and a geographical information system. Vegetation, soil brightness, humidity status, distances to water-bodies and areas covered by vegetation were assessed based on pre-outbreak images provided by the Landsat 5TM satellite. A strong inverse relationship between the number of humans infected by SLEV and distance to high-vigor vegetation was noted. A statistical non-hierarchic decision tree model was constructed, based on environmental variables representing the areas surrounding patient residences. From this point of view, 18% of the city could be classified as being at high risk for SLEV infection, while 34% carried a low risk, or none at all. Taking the whole 2005 epidemic into account, 80% of the cases came from areas classified by the model as medium-high or high risk. Almost 46% of the cases were registered in high-risk areas, while there were no cases (0%) in areas affirmed as risk free.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	landscape epidemiology, remote sensing, risk map, Saint Louis encephalitis, Argentina
Subjects:	600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 614 Medicina legale; incidenza delle malattie; Medicina preventiva pubblica > 614.4 Incidenza delle malattie e misure pubblica per prevenirle (classificare qui l'Epidemiologia, l'Epidemiologia clinica) > 614.42 Incidenza delle malattie, e misure pubbliche per prevenirle. Incidenza (classificare qui la prevalenza; la Geografia medica; l'Epidemiologia spaziale; i rilevamenti sanitari) 600 Tecnologia - Scienze applicate > 610 Medicina e salute (Classificare qui la tecnologia dei servizi medici) > 614 Medicina legale; incidenza delle malattie; Medicina preventiva pubblica > 614.5 Incidenza di specifiche malattie e tipi di malattia e misure pubbliche per prevenirle
Depositing User:	biblioteca 7
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2012 11:51
Last Modified:	28 Jun 2012 11:51
URI:	http://eprints.bice.rm.cnr.it/id/eprint/4154

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