GIS for Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance

Epidemiologists study the distribution and determinants of diseases in specified populations with the aim of controlling the disease under study. Descriptive epidemiology characterizes disease in terms of time, place, and person. The place attribute can be analyzed using GIS, which analyzes spatial location and organizes layers of information into visualizations using maps and 3D scenes revealing robust insights into data like; patterns, relationships, and situations—helping epidemiologists make smarter decisions.

The science of Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance is used in control of human diseases/Health Conditions as well as animal diseases. By embracing GIS disease surveillance personnel can be able to make smart decisions in control of communicable Zoonotic diseases among the pastoralists community.

Human Population has become more and more dynamic and there is need to embrace a tool that captures the place attribute accurately and holistically.

This course will build capacity of epidemiologists/disease surveillance personnel in using GIS to conduct epidemiological studies.