Nandini Chatterjee

Spatial and temporal variation and hotspot detection of kala-azar disease in Vaishali district (Bihar), India

BackgroundAn improved understanding in transmission variation of kala-azar is fundamental to conduct surveillance and implementing disease prevention strategies. This study investigated the spatio-temporal patterns and hotspot detection for reporting kala-azar cases in Vaishali district based on spatial statistical analysis.MethodsEpidemiological data from the study area during 2007–2011 was used to examine the dynamic space-time pattern of kala-azar outbreaks, and all cases were geocoded at a village level. Spatial smoothing was applied to reduce random noise in the data. Inverse distance weighting (IDW) is used to interpolate and predict the pattern of VL cases distribution across the district. Moran’s I Index (Moran’s I) statistics was used to evaluate autocorrelation in kala-azar spatial distribution and test how villages were clustered or dispersed in space. Getis-Ord Gi*(d) was used to identify the hotspot and cold spot areas within the study site.ResultsMapping kala-azar cases or incidences reflects the spatial heterogeneity in the incidence rate of kala-azar affected villages in Vaishali district. Kala-azar incidence rate map showed most of the highest endemic villages were located in southern, eastern and northwestern part of the district; in the middle part of the district generally show the medium occurrence of VL. There was a significant positive spatial autocorrelation of kala-azar incidences for five consecutive years, with Moran’s I statistic ranging from 0.04-0.17 (P <0.01). The results revealed spatially clustered patterns with significant differences by village. The hotspots showed the spatial trend of kala-azar diffusion (P < 0.01).ConclusionsThe results pointed to the usefulness of spatial statistical approach to improve our understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics and control of kala-azar. The study also showed the north-western and southern part of Vaishali district is most likely endemic cluster region. To employ exact and geographically suitable risk-reduction programmes, apply of such spatial analysis tools should suit a vital constituent in epidemiology research and risk evaluation of kala-azar.

The Burden of Visceral Leishmaniasis in India: Challenges in Using Remote Sensing and GIS to Understand and Control

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) continues to constitute immense public health problems and be an obstacle to socioeconomic development in India. The scrutiny of this disease remains a necessary step in its control, eradication, and prevention. Space technologies proffer new opportunities for rapid appraisal of endemic areas, stipulation of trustworthy estimation of populations at risk, prediction of disease distributions in areas that lack baseline data and are difficult to access, and guiding intervention strategies. Here, we focus on the epidemiology and control of VL in India and review remote sensing (RS) and GIS applications to date. For the original evidenced report, a search was done on electronic databases of PubMed, ERMSS, EQUEST and from online Internet searching to come across the recent research problems. We discuss the previous work conducted in this field, outlined potential new applications of GIS and RS techniques, and utilization of emerging satellite information, as they hold a promising area to further enhance VL risk mapping and prediction. Finally, we concluded with a discussion of strategies to overcome some of the perspective challenges of GIS and RS applications for VL control, so that supplementary and continued progress can be made to control this disease in India and elsewhere.

Appraisal of Phlebotomus argentipes habitat suitability using a remotely sensed index in the kala-azar endemic focus of Bihar, India

Visceral leishmaniasis, or kala-azar, is recognised as a serious emerging public health problem in India. In this study, environmental parameters, such as land surface temperature (LST) and renormalised difference vegetation indices (RDVI), were used to delineate the association between environmental variables and Phlebotomus argentipes abundance in a representative endemic region of Bihar, India. The adult P. argentipes were collected between September 2009-February 2010 using the hand-held aspirator technique. The distribution of P. argentipes was analysed with the LST and RDVI of the peak and lean seasons. The association between environmental covariates and P. argentipes density was analysed a multivariate linear regression model. The sandfly density at its maximum in September, whereas the minimum density was recorded in January. The regression model indicated that the season, minimum LST, mean LST and mean RDVI were the best environmental covariates for the P. argentipes distribution. The final model indicated that nearly 74% of the variance of sandfly density could be explained by these environmental covariates. This approach might be useful for mapping and predicting the distribution of P. argentipes, which may help the health agencies that are involved in the kala-azar control programme focus on high-risk areas.

Global Medical Geography

new ‘scramble for Africa’ and resource wars that may follow is part of this chapter. Book 7 contains Chapter 14. Chapter fourteen is a suggested road map for the future. This section is only 37 pages out of 3241 and the authors do not attempt to find quick solutions for Africa. The book has interesting captions and facts. Here are some. Twenty-four thousand people die daily in Africa because of hunger. Annual foreign aid for Africa is

Telehealth: a perspective approach for visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) control in India

12 bn. Thirty percent of Africa’s students emigrated after their studies (a massive brain drain). The G7 countries have 12% of the world population but control more than 70% of the resources. This project actually forms a SWOT analysis for African wildlife. The Strengths, with the different factors evaluated and the number of pages in brackets where the factors are discussed, as follows: Western donors (64), US AID (106), NGOs (155) and subsidies (59). Weaknesses are animal rights (42), hydropower (33) and health care (30). Opportunities are trade (198), minerals (45), raw material (79) and oil (14). Threats are civil wars (100), bushmeat trade (75), poverty (203), poaching (122), droughts (136), logging (67), overgrazing (52) and cattle (177). People who cannot go without the book are environmental consultants, government officials who are involved with establishing policies for wildlife, managers of big reserves, game ranches, foreign investors including the private sector, donors and NGOs, and students in conservation. The book is a dynamic experience of wildlife on the African continent, and as such it is invaluable.

The basalt stone quarries of eastern India

Abstract Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, is a vector borne disease caused by the protozoan parasite, L. donovani. Poor and neglected populations in Indian sub-continent are particularly affected by this disease. Due to the diversity of epidemiological situations, no single diagnosis, treatment, or control will be suitable for all. Control measures through case findings, treatment, and vector control are seldom used, even where they could be useful. Modern tools like telehealth, using space technology, have now come in handy to address issues of disease surveillance, control checking, and evaluation. The present study focuses on telehealth as a current vector control strategy, perspectives on diagnosis, treatment, and control of visceral leishmaniasis as these deserve more attention and research.

Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Quarrying of basalt stone in the Early Cretaceous Rajmahal Trap region of eastern India is increasing at an alarming pace. The quarries have created an extensive ugly landscape of pits and overburden dumps. The stone workshops continuously emit dust. These quarries generate year‐round employment in an impoverished terrain. The workforce mostly comprises the socio‐economically deprived indigenous tribal population. They are an important source of income to the State Governments of Jharkhand and West Bengal. While the need for building stone cannot be denied in a region that is rapidly industrialising and urbanising, issues of land degradation and health cannot be ignored. The paper offers measures to contain environmental degradation and generate alternative sources of income with bio‐fuel crops such as Jatropha curcas.

Incidence of visceral leishmaniasis in the Vaishali district of Bihar, India: spatial patterns and role of inland water bodies

edited by Sunjoy Joshi and Marlies Linke, Academic Foundation, New Delhi in association with Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi, in partnership with Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, Berlin, 2011, 282 ...