Spatial Epidemiology and Environmental Determ...

Spatial Epidemiology and Environmental Determinants of Mosquito-Borne Disease Hotspots in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India: A Medical Geography Approach

Author Name : Akhisha O P., Jyothirmayi. P.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56025/IJARESM.141026204

 

ABSTRACT

Mosquito-borne diseases pose a severe public health challenge in Alappuzha District, Kerala, a  low-lying wetland ecosystem experiencing acute outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, malaria,  Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, and Zika. This study applies a medical geography framework  and GIS spatial modeling to delineate disease hotspots and evaluate environmental determinants.  Integrating Digital Elevation Models (DEM), multi-temporal Land Surface Temperature (LST,  2015–2025) remote sensing data, field surveys, expert interviews, and official health surveillance  statistics (2020), multi-criteria spatial analysis was conducted in ArcGIS. Spatial modeling  identified 25 Grama Panchayats as high-risk hotspots. Sub-sea level terrain (down to -10.9 m  MSL) restricts natural drainage, causing chronic waterlogging. LST analysis confirmed endemic  Panchayats consistently fall within the 25.0°C to 30.0°C thermal range, the physiological optimum  for vector survival and viral incubation. Severe environmental pollution, including 2.5 million  liters of daily untreated septic discharge and 93% coliform well contamination, further accelerates  vector breeding. Hydro-topographical vulnerabilities, micro-climatic suitability, and sanitation  deficits drive endemic vector transmission. Predictive spatial mapping provides an evidence-based  framework for targeted vector control and environmental management.