Surveillance of Livestock Diseases with Geographical Information System (GIS), Salem, South India

Abstract

The principles of GIS technologies are an incredibly powerful tool in aiding animal health and well suited for the visualization of epidemiological research. Disease surveillance comprised passive and active surveillance. Passive surveillance data were used to calculate the morbidity and mortality rates along with the further comparison of the infected zone (Site 1) and disease-free zone (Site 2). The geo-coordinates of the veterinary centre in each block was marked to create the disease maps by linking the morbidity and mortality data using Spatial Interpolation technique. The value of spatial data in animal disease surveillance demarcates the potential zones for better identification and hence with the assistance of veterinarians, the endemic and disease-free zones were examined and compared to determine the factors for the spread of livestock diseases.