Application of GIS-Technologies for Identifying the Areas with Different Degree of Potential Hazard in Natural Tularemia Foci of the Moscow Region
Objective of the study is to differentiate enzootic, as regards tularemia, territories of the Moscow Region according to the degree of potential epidemic hazard, applying GIS-technologies. Materials and methods. Utilized have been archival records, held by the Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Moscow Region and Plague Control Center, Moscow over the period of 1942-2014, literature and author’s data. Constructed have been two maps, displaying the peculiarities of tularemia dissemination in the territory of the Moscow Region, deploying GIS software kit - MapInfo Professional, 10.5. Results and discussion. GIS-analysis of the landscape confinement of the areas with sustained tularemia manifestations during 1942-2014 has revealed that regions of the longest persistence (10 years and more) are situated within the altitudes interval of 100-150 m A.S.L. in the territory of Upper-Volga and Meshcherskaya lowlands, Moskvoretsko-Okskaya valley, Zaokskoe erosional plateau, south-western part of Smolensk-Moscow highlands. Carried out is differentiation of enzootic as regards tularemia territories in the Moscow Region according to the degree of potential epidemic hazard. The results obtained will serve as the basis for the enhancement of the strategies for epizootiological monitoring over natural tularemia foci and for effective planning of prophylactic activities.