Identification of dengue risk zone: a geo-medical study on Madurai city

Dengue fever is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Dengue is transmitted by several species of mosquito within the genus Aedes, principally A. aegypti. The study area of Madurai is located in South Tamilnadu, India. Mapping of geographical distribution and identification of disease risk area is an important element in disease management efforts. The present study demonstrates the significance of geo-medical mapping in identifying the risk zones of vector-borne disease by taking a study of dengue cases in Madurai city. Data on dengue cases recorded during 2011–2015 in 100 wards (unit area) of Madurai city was analyzed. The land use/land cover map prepared from the satellite image of 2016 was spatially correlated. About 0.34% of the population had been affected by dengue during 2011–2015 in the Madurai city with spatial variations at different wards. Location quotient analysis aided the identification of dengue risk zones in Madurai city. Built-up lands and fallow lands are characterized by a large number of water bodies and irrigated crop land making them more vulnerable to dengue. The main objective of the study was to identify the risk zone of dengue disease through geospatial mapping by taking a geomedical study of Madurai city.