Application Of Geographic Information System On Surveillance Of Dengue Vector In Penang

Abstract

Dengue fever is one of dangerous mosquito-borne disease and has become major important challenging public health problems in Malaysia especially in the fast developing city like Penang. This study is to incorporate of the systematic effective approach by using Geographic Information System (GIS) application as a tool in order to help the process of data collection, data processing, data analysis and mapping study using the software ArcGIS 10.1. The role of GIS applications in producing an analysis in the form of mapping that allows viewing and analyzing data on mosquito vectors of dengue in the study area. The result of this mapping indirectly helps in pattern distribution of dengue vector and predicting the location of potential as a hot spot location of this mosquito-borne outbreak. An analytical statistic of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was demonstrated the perimeter use in this study and comparison result between GIS application and SPSS was analysed. Through the study, the potential of the approach of GIS applications in the management strategy for dengue control operation and a program of an appropriate vector for dengue solve the problem that is increasing every year.

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)Vector of Dengue; Penang

Introduction

In this study, GIS is used as an aiding tool in data collecting, data processing, analysis and mapping by using ArcGIS 10.1 software. GIS application enable the processing of spatial and non-spatial data to generate the information in the form of dynamic mapping series as well as static mapping for visual data presentation that are presentable and easy to understand by various level of society. Furthermore, the mapping also assists indirectly in predicting the potential areas that are exposed with dengue outbreak.

At the end of this study, the role of GIS application were highlighted as it generates the analysis in the form of mapping that allow the illustration and data analysis of mosquito vector and dengue outbreak at the study area. The potential of GIS application can be used as a strategy management in controlling dengue cases in various vector control program that are appropriate in order to resolve the increasing cases of dengue outbreak.

Recently, vector borne diseases such as dengue fever and dengue haemorrhagic fever are identified as the highest cases in most of the Asian country including Malaysia. According to the data by the Ministry of Health Malaysia, it showed the increasing of cases in dengue fever by 22.8 % (14,982 cases) that the total cumulative cases of dengue fever from January until 29 August 2015 is 80,654 cases compared to 65,672 cases in 2014 on the same timeline. Meanwhile, a total of 3 death cases were reported until last week. The total cumulative death is increasing at 91 death by 71% up until 29 august 2015 is 219 death compared to 128 death on 2014.

Premise surveillance has been conducted from January to June 2015 showed that a total of 35094 premises are positive with Aedes breeding activity. Most of the cases recorded are from residential area with 55% cases followed by vacant lots (22%), construction site (2%) and landfill site 3%. The artificial breeding sites of Aedes mosquito found including plastic food container, polystyrene, water tank, pail and vases are the most breeding sites found at the residential area. It has been reported by (KKM, 2015) that Pulau Pinang is one of the 10 states that have the increasing case of dengue fever with 23 cases or 21.5% from January to Jun compared to the preceding year.

The increase of dengue fever outbreak is influenced by the environmental factor as well as the development activities. The environmental factors including temperature, rain distribution, residential area, demographic structure, domestic waste disposal management and population are affecting the breeding activity and survival of Aedes mosquito (Gubler & Meltzer, 1999). These factors have caused a serious dengue fever epidemic towards a population (Seng, Chong, & Moore, 2005). The rapid and uncontrolled development activities in urban area are the main factor contributing to the increasing cases of dengue fever in Pulau Pinang. The modern urban landscape has indirectly changed the biology of Aedes by providing various types of breeding site (Carbajo, Curto, & Schweigmann, 2006). Furthermore, the inefficiency of waste disposal management provides a potential breeding site of larvae especially for Aedes aegypti . This is one of the challenges in implementing the control program as a preventive measure of dengue outbreak against dengue vector (Bohra & Andriansolo, 2001).

The agency such as the District and State Health Department is still using a conventional surveillance as their work practice. Mapping and visual presentation analysis by using a spatial-based technology application is still not fully utilize and implement in monitoring, management and research of vector control program. Moreover, the monitoring and control program of dengue outbreak today focuses more on controlling the identified mosquito population has causing the spread of dengue outbreak to a lower and stable population.

Geographic Information System (GIS) enables mapping for spatial visualization by using ArcGIS 10.1 software. This user-friendly software can also manage and update the data on entomology and epidemiology in order to predict the vector exposure and dengue outbreak in a location accurately (Chang et al., 2009). The extensive study has been done by using GIS in controlling vectors and vector borne disease. However, the potential spatial-based technology like GIS still have not been given enough recognition in prevention and controlling vector program in this country (Eisen, Beaty, Morrison, & Scott, 2009)

In order to get the location precisely, the GIS application is using the Global Position System (GPS) that can assist in collection of fieldwork data on dengue distribution cases based on the report. GPS technology is suitable to use as it integrates with GIS application made it easier in database processing for visualization and analysis (Morrison, Zielinski-Gutierrez, Scott, & Rosenberg, 2008). In addition, the approach used in GIS has enable the various types of data and information regarding spatial location, the potential and related statistical analysis and the development of database that can easily be managed and update for the use of the District and State Health Department. It is also can be used to monitor the dengue outbreak as well as the identified potential location for dengue outbreak in the future. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine abundance of dengue vectors by investigate potential breeding sites in Balik Pulau, Batu Maung and Gelugor in Penang Island using GIS

Problem Statement

Surveillance that has been conducted irregularly at Pulau Pinang is one of the factors contributing to the ineffective dengue control around this area. The convention method practiced by the agencies such as State and District Health Department is identified as the main contributor to the expanding dengue cases especially at the urban area. Therefore, a more systematic and effective approach is needed to improve the work practice

Research Questions

• What is cause dengue outbreak at urban area in Pulau Pinang.

• What is relation between present of potential breeding sites with population of dengue vector.

• How GIS application can help in identify location of dengue cases distribution appropriately.

Purpose of the Study

• To determine of potential breeding container habitats of the dengue vectors in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

• To show the importance of mapping and result of visual analysis in use of information system GIS in observation operation, disease control and research about vector carrier

Research Methods

Study area

There were three main components in the methodology of this study; observation of ovitraps, the observation of distribution and diversity of the mosquito found at different ovitraps and lastly to compare the data of mosquito breeding sites. Balik Pulau is a rural area in the south-western district, Batu Maung is sub urban area in the south-eastern district and Gelugor is an urban area in the northeast district of Penang.

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Findings

A total of 5616 individuals of Ae. albopictus and 385 individuals of Ae. aegypti were collected during study from January 2017 until June 2017 at Balik Pulau, Batu Maung and Gelugor (Table 01 ). The map view of the study field at Balik Pulau were generated by using GIS software ArcGIS 10.3 (Figure 02 ). The figure 03 shows the highest number of Ae. albopictus with 311 individuals while the figure 04 shows the lowest number of Ae. albopictus with 82 individuals were recorded at Balik Pulau. Figure 3 .3 illustrate the population distribution of Aedes aegypti at Balik Pulau

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The highest number of Ae. albopictus at Batu Maung are 232 individuals (Figure 05 ) and the lowest number of Ae. albopictus are 85 individuals (Figure 06 ) were identified during study. While, Figure 08 show the population distribution of Ae. agypti .

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The highest number of Ae. albopictus at Gelugor are 392 (Figure 08 ) and the lowest number of Ae. albopictus are 36 (Figure 09 ) were identified during study. While, Figure 10 show the population distribution of Ae. agypti .

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Conclusion

Dengue disease has constantly ascent, transmitted by Ae. Aegypti and Ae. albopictus worldwide especially in the tropical developing countries (Chang et al., 2009) The total number of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti at the study areas from January 2017 until June 2017 are 5616 and 385 individuals respectively . Every study areas has the highest and the lowest site of number of Ae.s albopictus and Ae. aegypti collected. The presence of water holding container at study areas are the cause of the increasing of potential breeding sites of Aedes mosquito. This study revealed the abundance of breeding sites which are artificial and natural breeding sites influence the population of Aedes . The example of artificial breeding site found is polystrene and natural breeding site such as falling leaves containing collected clear rain water could be the spot for mosquito for hatching in

During this study , the artificial breeding sites were found highest in abundance compared to natural breeding sites. The finding is consistent with the findings of past studies by Nur Aida (2012) which found 95% articificial breeding sites while only 4.2% of natural breeding sites. The water capacity of each breeding site found also play role to the present of mosquito. Breeding site that contain water capacity <0.5 to >1.5 litre size includes fridge drawers,toilet flush tank, car tires, tank cover, helmet, bird’s drink container, basin , polystrene , and bucket. According to research had been done by Burkot et al., (2007) also show the abundance artificial breeding sites such as tires than natural breeding sites. Besides, natural breeding sites also holding water can be found throughout the study such as plant axil, dry leaves, and coconut shell. Manrique Saide et al. (2008) and Dieng et al. (2010) reported their study found bucket as the most abundant and focal larval breeding sites. Dieng et al (2012) also recorded presence of eggs of Aede s eggs in a house in urban area of Penang Island and presence larval of Aedes at bird’s drink container.

Throughout this study, Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti were found cohabitat various breeding sites of differnt type and size at study area. Klowden (1993) also recorded both species of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti also residing similar ecological niche.

The findings acknowledge the breeding site of Aedes mosquitoes in Penang Island are mostly artificial breeding sites than natural breeding site. The differences of cultural and socioeconomic background of study areas resident also contribute role in abundance and diversity of mosquito breeding site. For future research, we would like to recommend the continuity and extension of this research in Penang Island.

Acknowledgments

This study acknowledged the financial supports provided by Research University Grant Universiti Sains Malaysia (1001/PHUMANITI/811324) for financial supports given throughout the research.

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