Geographic Information System in Analysis and Evaluation of Swine Flu

Swine flu (swine influenza) is a respiratory disease caused by viruses (influenza viruses) that infect the respiratory tract of pigs and result in nasal secretions, a barking-like cough, decreased appetite, and listless behavior. Swine flu produces most of the same symptoms in pigs as human flu produces in people. Global outbreak of a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1, officially named the "new H1N1", first identified in April 2009, and commonly called "Swine flu" is not caused by a swine influenza virus only. Their cause is a new strain of virus of influenza A H1N1 that contains genetic material matched a strain of human influenza virus, a strain of avian influenza virus, and two separate strains of swine influenza virus. The origins of this new strain are unknown and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has been isolated from pigs.

One of the most challenging and unexplored issues is the ability to determine the spread patterns, the ability to predict future spread patterns and the ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the methods that are used in curbing future spread patterns of H1N1. The purpose of this paper is therefore aimed at introducing the technique of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in activities that are undertaken by organizations with special emphasis on programmes that are put in place in the fighting of Swine flu.