[Study on the application of geographic information system in spatial distribution of hemorrhage fever with renal syndrome in China].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the spatial distribution of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in China by geographic information system, and to draw up a map on HRFS risk areas.


METHODS
A set of database was set up using the information collected and linked to electronic maps of China in a software ArcGIS 8.01 from 41 HFRS surveillance sites during 1995 - 1998. A HFRS spatial distribution model was developed using inverse distance weighted interpolation of ArcGIS's spatial analysis method. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in each HFRS surveillance site was extracted from SPOT4 satellite vegetation imagery. Correlation analysis was performed through SPSS 10.0 to analyze the association between NDVI and HFRS incidence, HFRS risk areas were mapped under different colors.


RESULTS
Spatial distribution model from HFRS surveillance sites showed that HFRS foci mainly presented in the Heilongjiang River drainage, the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and the Jinghang grant Canal-Huaihe River drainage. It was consistent with HFRS distribution map derived from national infectious disease reporting system. Correlation analysis indicated that HFRS incidence rates were significantly associated with NDVI (r = 0.417, P < 0.01). The HFRS risk areas was mapped according to NDVI of each surveillance site.


CONCLUSIONS
It is promising to apply GIS technology in predication of the distribution of HFRS by establishing this prediction model.
Fang
Li-qun
LQ
Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Academy of Military Medical Science, Beijing 100071, China.
Cao
Wu-chun
WC
Chen
Hua-xin
HX
Wang
Bao-guang
BG
Wu
Xiao-ming
XM
Yang
Hong
H
Zhang
Xi-tan
XT
D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004463:Ecology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005544:Forecasting; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D018063:Hantaan virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017215:Satellite Communications