Editorials
26 October 2023
Vol. 18 No. 2 (2023)
From Snow’s map of cholera transmission to dynamic catchment boundary delineation: current front lines in spatial analysis
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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The history of mapping infectious diseases dates back to the 19th century when Dr John Snow utilised spatial analysis to pinpoint the source of the 1854 cholera outbreak in London, a ground-breaking work that laid the foundation for modern epidemiology and disease mapping (Newsom, 2006). As technology advanced, so did mapping techniques. In the late 20th century, geographic information systems (GIS) revolutionized disease mapping by enabling researchers to overlay diverse datasets to visualise and analyse complex spatial patterns (Bergquist & Manda 2019; Hashtarkhani et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic showed that disease mapping is particularly valuable for optimising prevention and control strategies of infectious diseases by prioritising geographical targeting interventions and containment strategies (Mohammadi et al., 2021). Today, with the aid of highresolution satellite imagery, geo-referenced electronic data collection systems, real-time data feeds, and sophisticated modelling algorithms, disease mapping has become a feasible and accessible tool for public health officials in tracking, managing, and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases at global, regional and local scales (Hay et al., 2013). [...]
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Bergquist R, Manda S, 2019. The world in your hands: GeoHealth then and now. Geospat Health 14:779. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2019.779
Hashtarkhani S, Tabatabaei-Jafari H, Kiani B, 2021. Use of geographical information systems in multiple sclerosis research: A systematic scoping review, Mult Scler Relat Disord 51:102909. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msard.2021.102909
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How to Cite
From Snow’s map of cholera transmission to dynamic catchment boundary delineation: current front lines in spatial analysis. (2023). Geospatial Health, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/gh.2023.1247
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