Application of GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques in Epidemiology

Viral haemorrhagic fevers have been among the most prominent diseases that have plagued humanity. Among the most notorious of haemorrhagic fevers are Ebola and Marburg, which are two highly infectious and deadly diseases that have appeared sporadically in some parts of Africa, causing many epidemics that have led to the deaths of people and nonhuman primates, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Research is ongoing to identify the natural reservoir of the viruses. Till date, no research has been successful in identifying the natural reservoir of the viruses. This research was carried out to provide a broader knowledge of filoviruses in Africa, by characterising environmental conditions associated with the breeding of the viruses, and subsequently model the distribution of the viruses. Remote sensing and GIS techniques were employed in this research. The result obtained from the various analyses carried out, identified some locations in and outside Africa as possible habitats of filoviruses. It is believed that the results obtained from this research have extended the knowledge in the quest for the identification of the natural reservoir of the two deadly viruses.