Infectious diseases are diseases caused by microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) that can spread from one person, animal, or environment to another. How Diseases Spread (Transmission) Direct contact – Touching an infected person. Airborne – Through coughing or sneezing. Water and food – Drinking or eating contaminated food or water. Vector-borne – Spread by mosquitoes, ticks, or flies. Blood and body fluids – Through infected blood or body fluids. Creation (Occurrence) of Infectious Disease Disease occurs when: A pathogen enters the body. The person's immunity is weak. The environment is favorable (poor sanitation, pollution, overcrowding). Important Scholars Scholar Year Contribution Louis Pasteur 1861 Proposed the Germ Theory of Disease . Robert Koch 1882 Iden...
1. Disease Mapping GIS maps the location of diseases. Helps identify areas with high disease cases. Scholar: John Snow (1854) – Created the famous cholera map in London, considered the foundation of medical mapping. 2. Health Risk Mapping Identifies areas with high health risks (pollution, floods, poor sanitation). Helps governments plan preventive measures. Scholar: Charles Picket (1990s) – Promoted GIS applications in public health planning. (Often cited in health GIS literature; ensure the spelling is "Picket/Picquet" according to your syllabus source.) 3. Hotspot Analysis Finds places with many disease cases . Used to identify disease outbreak areas. Method: Getis-Ord Gi* Statistic. Developed by: Arthur Getis & J. Keith Ord (1992). 4. Coldspot Analysis Finds places with very few disease cases . Helps compare healthy and unhealthy regions. Method: Getis-Ord Gi* (1992...