Towards a Web GIS-based approach for mapping a dengue outbreak

Dengue, a most common vector (mosquito)-borne viral infection causing serious illness and death mostly among children, is commonly widespread throughout the tropical and sub-tropical areas with local/regional variations. There are some important environment factors which are affecting the dengue spread. This study was conducted to evaluate the spatial outbreak patterns of dengue in Lahore District which was among the majorly affected areas. The environmental factors affecting the spread of the disease have been mapped in a GIS using all the spatial and tabular data obtained from different sources. Land surface temperature (LST), rainfall, land use/land cover, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and population density are considered the major factors which are affecting the dengue spread. The results depicted some particular trends. Areas with high population density were found to be more infected for the simple reason of lack of hygiene measures and water accumulation on the unpaved roads (as these areas were mostly low-income pockets of the city). Some posh areas although with comparatively low population density were also found to be infected from dengue due to the reason that they mostly had lawns and swimming pools in their houses which are the most active breeding sites of the mosquitoes.