Using GIS in Explaining Spatial Distribution of Brucellosis in an Endemic District in Iran

Background: to check the feasib ility of using geograph ical information system (gis ) methods, we linked the brucellosisdata of human and animals. methods: in a village-based ecological study in bardsir- a distri ct in kerman province locatednearly to the central palt of iran- data of human brucellos is, soc io-economic level , and livestock characteristics (2001-3)were linked by using gis methods. results: annual incidence of human brucellosis was 141.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.most of the high risk villages were seen in the north and south of bardsir (3.6% of villages). a positive associationwas observed between the frequency of brucellosis and den sity of cattle (or= 1.81, p= 0.007). in addition, the size of humanpopulation was an independent determinant factor (or= 1.94, p< 0.001). no asso ciation was found between frequencyof the disease and socio-economic indicators and also the density of she ep. conclusion: our study showed that we couldgen erate informative risk maps of brucellosis using health and veterinary data which might improve the quality of controlprogramme in iran.