Geospatial information, a key element to strength Europe´s defences against infectius diseases

Dr. Virginia Estevez, Senior Expert GISDr. Lorenzo de Simone, Scientific Officer GIS

Geospatial information, a key element to strength Europe’s defences against infectious diseases: the ECDC experience

ESRI European Users ConferenceOctober 26-28, 2011 Madrid

Aim of the briefing

• ECDC and its mission

• Current geospatial information available and the context inwhich it is used to monitor and respond to current infectious disease threats in Europe

• Future development plans to

ESRI European Users Conference October 26-28, 2011 Madrid

Geospatial information, a key element to strength Europe’s Defences against infectious diseases: the ECDC experience

• Future development plans tocreate a centralized GISplatform

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), is the European Union agency with the responsibility to strengthen Europe's defences against infectious diseases.

Mission

To identify, assess and

ECDC


To identify, assess and

communicate current and

emerging threats to human

Health posed by infectious

diseases, and to support and

help coordinate European Union

countries’ preparedness and

response capacities.




GIS Team

Current geospatial information available and context in which it is used

Before creation of GIS team

• ESRI datasets (VMAP0): Admin. boundaries, hydrographic network…

• Population data from EUROSTAT

• Other datasets disperse: Raster/Vector/Tables

• Environmental datasets from the European Environment &

Epidemiology (E3) network

After creation of GIS team

• Acquisition of NUTS 0, 1, 2, 3

• GAUL data (0,1,2)

• In process to collect geo-reference health data

• In process to collect a good repository of raster/

vector maps worldwide

• Some specific datasets from GISCO geodatabase



GIS (Core Function at ECDC)GIS (Core Function at ECDC)

GIS Needs Assessment Report



Outbreak assessmentField epidemiology

Responses

Monitoring trends

Early warningfunctions

Health threatsPreparedness

Inputs scientific network Multidisciplinary approach

EpidemicIntelligence

Surveillance Scientific Advice / Disease Specific Programs

Response

i.e. TESSy i.e. EPIs i.e. TTT i.e. E3, VBornet …

Surveillance• Identify spatial trends of diseases

• Retrospective analysis

• Descriptive maps

• Reports for publication



Surveillance

JointZoonosisreport(ECDC / EFSA)

Distribution of Echinococcus spp., E. multilocularis and E. granulosus in humans, 2007-2009

Source: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/1496.pdf







Responses

Monitoring trends





Surveillance Scientific Advice / DSPsResponse


� Early warning functions

� Monitoring of health events

� Follow up of health events

Epidemic Intelligence



Epidemic Intelligence

� Early warning functions

� Monitoring of health events

� Follow up of health events.



Spread of influenza A(H1)/A(H1N1) in EU/EEA countries

�Week 38/2009

Sporadic

No activity

No report

Local

Wide-spread

Regional

Source: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/healthtopics/influenza/epidemiological_data/Pages/influenza_activity_EU_EEA_activity_maps.aspx







Responses

Monitoring trends







Response� Outbreak assessment / Risk assessment / Risk analysis

� Short Term protection / Prospective analysis

Source: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/activities/diseaseprogrammes/emerging_and_vector_borne_diseases/PublishingImages/110623_West_Nile_map_2010_high_res.JPG







Responses

Monitoring trends







Scientific Advice /Disease Specific Projects

• Links to Environmental / Socio-economic data

• Inputs scientific network / expertise

• Long term projections

• Climatic impact & burden of diseases• Climatic impact & burden of diseases

• Risk mapping & collaboration with external partners of public health arena

• Multidisciplinary approach



Current known distribution of Aedes aegyptiJune 2011



Source: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/activities/diseaseprogrammes/emerging_and_vector_borne_diseases/Pages/VBORNET_maps.aspx



Source: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/0905_TER_Development_of_Aedes_Albopictus_Risk_Maps.pdf



Source: http://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications/Publications/0905_TER_Development_of_Aedes_Albopictus_Risk_Maps.pdf

Prospective impact of climate change on Aedes albopictus distribution in Europe: minimal impact, long-term change scenario

Enterprise GIS for ECDC

Based on:

1. GIS Needs Assessment Report produced in June 2010

2. Centralized GIS platform that will support disease mapping,

data analysis and data sharing among ECDC experts and

The future ….

data analysis and data sharing among ECDC experts and

potentially to extranet public

3. Compilation of standardized spatial data



Enterprise GIS

ECDC MAP MAKER APPLICATION (EMMA)

3rd Phase1st Phase 2nd Phase

Disease Connection to Development of Disease

MappingApplication

Connection toOther Internal

Systems

Development of Analytical Functions

& Geoportal Capabilities




• Rapid & friendly web application

• Inclusion of an entry data module to facilitate mapping work

• Update & edit event data

• Elaboration of two types of maps: choropleth

1st Phase: Disease Mapping Application

& graduated symbols

• Possibility to map various spatial resolutions

(NUTS)

• Customized data classification

• Provision of standard GIS tools




New projects

• Creation of specific mapping environments

Projects already ongoing

• Development of a mapping interface within their

2nd Phase: Integration with Internal Systems

own environments

• Inclusion of specific data entry modules to

facilitate mapping work

• Establishment of map services




Analytical functionalities, Geoportal capabilities Harmonization of all GIS modules

• Development of spatial analysis techniques: Buffering, cluster detection, etc.

• Development of Geoportal functionalities: drag & drop of selected datasets,

elaborated maps, map templates,

metadata files visualization & editing, etc.

• Integration of all mapping applications &

functionalities within a common platform



Conclusions

Spatial information combined with GIS within Public Health:

• Allows managing emergencies: risk assessments, monitoring outbreaks, etc...

• Contributes to achieving public health objectives

• Plays an essential role in publich health communication

• Provides scientific evidence

Spatial information at ECDC:

• Can be used within a wide diversity of areas: from emergencies to long term

predictions

• Provides timely information

• Is a cost effective resource

• Plays a unifying role: Integrates different objectives, projects & expertises

within the organization



Thank you for your attention!!!Thank you for your attention!!!



Dr. Virginia Estévez Adán+46 858 60 13 [email protected]

Technology

Geospatial information, a key element to strength Europe´s defences against infectius diseases