An evaluation of spatial distribution of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever with geographical information systems (GIS), in Samsun and Amasya region

Abstract

The widespread geographic distribution of the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus and its ability to produce severe human disease with high mortality rates make the virus an important human pathogen. CCHF has a very wide geographic distribution, being endemic in more than 30 countries in Africa, central and southwestern Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe. CCHF virus-infected cases were first reported in Turkey in 2002 and a total of 3135 confirmed cases were reported between 2002 and 2008. This increase in Turkey may be attributed to the country lying on the migratory path between Africa and Europe, changes in climatic factors, and environmental factors. This study was intended to provide the risk area and spatial distribution map and, patients diagnosed with CCHF at hospitals in the Turkish province of Samsun and at the Ondokuz Mayis University Medical Faculty Hospital (OMUMFH) between 01 January, 2004, and 31 December, 2008, by establishing their domicile addresses, and to produce an epidemiological risk map for the disease using Geographical Information Systems.