GIS

Map Servers — H1N1: Do We Really Know What Is Going On?

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) operates a web map server that provides information about H1N1 in the Americas. It clearly shows that Canada and the northern United States are the areas with the highest levels of H1N1 occurrence. Although dated July 2, the information as compared to this Google map example of the world current situation tells a different story, and shows the rate of spread more recently.

Here is a New England Journal of Medicine map for H1N1. Notice how there is almost no occurrence in Canada and the northern U.S.

Here is the World Health Organisation map as of August 13 - notice it only delineates fatalities. It too shows no occurrence of H1N1 in Russia. This is a fact that almost all maps are showing. The logical question is - why does no data for Russia show up in most web maps?

Flutracker uses Google Maps and large dots to designate the spread of H1N1. This map shows some of the highest rates of any maps.

The Centre for Disease Control shows information for the United States, but mentions that July 24 was the last real data that reportedly occurred, largely due to the inability to keep up with the rate of spread.

I looked at quite a few maps in addition to the above and each tells a different story. There is no one standard approach for reporting these changing circumstances. I think the obvious question is, what is going on in Russia? But other trends show a growing number of infections in South America and Africa at a very high speed.

What would be helpful here is metadata and data quality. CDC does an admirable job trying to keep up. And, to be fair, how the data originates is variable, but points to a need for a global mapping program for instances like this which can locate accurately and provide a better overall picture for decision making. This is a clear case where geographic information systems (GIS) can make a difference.

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