Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
14:06
Mapping Bacterial Functional Networks and Pathways in Escherichia Coli using Synthetic Genetic Arrays
Published on: November 12, 2012
Global mapping of infectious disease
Simon I Hay1, Katherine E Battle, David M Pigott
1Spatial Ecology and Epidemiology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. simon.hay@zoo.ox.ac.uk
Summary
Mapping infectious diseases globally is crucial but lags significantly. Only 4% of diseases with mapping potential are comprehensively charted, hindering disease surveillance and outbreak prediction efforts.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology and Disease Mapping
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Public Health
- Infectious Disease Surveillance
Background:
- Understanding the geographical distribution of infectious diseases is vital for public health.
- Existing disease mapping efforts are insufficient to meet global health surveillance needs.
- Limited data and mapping methodologies hinder comprehensive infectious disease analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of knowledge on the geographical distribution of human infectious diseases.
- To assess cartographic progress, data availability, and mapping methodologies for infectious diseases.
- To define requirements and a framework for assessing infectious disease mapping opportunities.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of infectious disease mapping literature and data.
- Enumeration of cartographic progress and current mapping techniques.
- Development of a quantitative framework for assessing mapping opportunities.
Main Results:
- Of 355 identified infectious diseases, 174 (49%) warrant mapping, but only 7 (4%) are comprehensively mapped.
- Significant gaps exist in mapping infectious disease occurrence and distribution.
- Current limitations impede global burden quantification, biosurveillance, and outbreak prediction.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need to improve infectious disease mapping globally.
- Leveraging non-conventional data, machine learning, and crowdsourcing can accelerate progress.
- Enhanced disease cartography is essential for effective international biosurveillance and public health strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Infectious Diseases and Their Occurrence
Infectious diseases appear in populations through various transmission patterns, influenced by pathogen characteristics, population immunity, environmental conditions, and social behavior. Understanding these patterns is essential for effective public health surveillance and intervention. These categories—sporadic, outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, and endemic—help frame the nature and scope of disease events.Sporadic diseases occur irregularly and infrequently, without a predictable temporal or...
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance
Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
01:30Reservoir of Infection
Infectious diseases arise from intricate interactions between pathogens and their reservoirs. A reservoir of infection refers to the natural habitat where a pathogen lives, grows, and multiplies, serving as a continual source of infection. Reservoirs are broadly classified as either living or nonliving, and each plays a unique role in disease transmission, significantly influencing public health interventions and control strategies.Humans act as reservoirs for a wide array of pathogens,...
01:20Infection
When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. Therefore, its prevention requires breaking the chain of infection.
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:23Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Multistate foodborne outbreaks pose significant public health risks and require meticulous investigation to identify sources and implement control measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) utilizes a dynamic seven-step process for these investigations, integrating data from laboratories, interviews, and environmental assessments to protect public health.Outbreak Detection: The detection of multistate outbreaks typically begins with PulseNet, the CDC's national laboratory...
01:25Colonisation of Pathogens
Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...