Research

EpiScanGIS: an online geographic surveillance system for meningococcal disease

Markus Reinhardt^4,1,2, Johannes Elias², Jürgen Albert¹, Matthias Frosch², Dag Harmsen^3,4 and Ulrich Vogel^2*

• * Corresponding author: Ulrich Vogel uvogel@hygiene.uni-wuerzburg.de

Author Affiliations

¹ Computer Science II, University of Würzburg, Germany

² Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Germany

³ Department of Periodontology, University of Münster, Germany

⁴ Ridom GmbH, Würzburg, Germany

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International Journal of Health Geographics 2008, 7:33 doi:10.1186/1476-072X-7-33

Published: 1 July 2008

Abstract

Background

Surveillance of infectious diseases increasingly relies on Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The integration of pathogen fine typing data in dynamic systems and visualization of spatio-temporal clusters are a technical challenge for system development.

Results

An online geographic information system (EpiScanGIS) based on open source components has been launched in Germany in May 2006 for real time provision of meningococcal typing data in conjunction with demographic information (age, incidence, population density). Spatio-temporal clusters of disease detected by computer assisted cluster analysis (SaTScan™) are visualized on maps. EpiScanGIS enables dynamic generation of animated maps. The system is based on open source components; its architecture is open for other infectious agents and geographic regions. EpiScanGIS is available at http://www.episcangis.org webcite, and currently has 80 registered users, mostly from the public health service in Germany. At present more than 2,900 cases of invasive meningococcal disease are stored in the database (data as of June 3, 2008).

Conclusion

EpiScanGIS exemplifies GIS applications and early-warning systems in laboratory surveillance of infectious diseases.