A comparison of six analytical disease mapping techniques as applied to West Nile Virus in the coterminous United States.

ABSTRACT: West Nile Virus has quickly become a serious problem in the United States (US). Its extremely rapid diffusion throughout the country argues for a better understanding of its geographic dimensions. Both 2003 and 2004 percentages of deaths by numbers of reported human cases, for the 48 coterminous US states, are analyzed with a range of spatial statistical models, seeking to furnish a fuller appreciation of the variety of models available to researchers interested in analytical disease mapping. Comparative results indicate that no single spatial statistical model specification furnishes a preferred description of these data, although normal approximations appear to furnish some questionable implications. Findings also suggest several possible future research topics.

SUBMITTER: Griffith DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1215506 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature