ABSTRACT
The increased availability of georeferenced health information, population data, satellite imagery of environmental factors that influence disease activity levels, and the development of geographic information systems and software for geocoding addresses, have facilitated the ascent of the investigations of the spatial and spatio-temporal variations of disease. Health data provides information to identify public health problems and respond appropriately when occur. This information is crucial to prevent and control a variety of health conditions such as infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, injuries, and health-related behaviors. The mapping of disease risk has a long history in public health surveillance. The software provides excellent tools that greatly facilitate effective communication with collaborators, decision makers, and the general public, and should be used consistently and thoughtfully to respond quickly to population’s health needs. Disease maps provide a rapid visual summary of spatial information and allow the identification of patterns that may be missed in tabular presentations.
