GISEPI - A SIMPLE GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION-SYSTEM TO SUPPORT PUBLIC-HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS

One important question for the implementation of a surveillance system concern the type of instrument that can provide timely information on the course of diseases and other health events. This may facilitate p rompt implementation of prevention and intervention efforts, such as s trengthening control action in one specific area or initiation of epid emiological investigation. Since health related variables of interest are often spatially distributed they require special tools for represe ntation and analysis. Owing to their inherent ability to manage spatia l information, geographical information systems (GIS) provide an excel lent framework for the design of surveillance systems. This paper pres ents a simple information system, based on the concepts of GIS, design ed for representation and elementary analysis of epidemiological data. An example of its potential use to support malaria control activities in Brazil is discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.