Spatial epidemiology and infectious diseases

Guest Editor: Prof Gerardo Chowell

Improvements in our understanding of the spatial-temporal variation in the spread of infectious diseases could lead to development of innovative strategies, which would ameliorate their impact on morbidity and mortality worldwide. Quantitative approaches that rely on mathematical models and methodology from the field of spatial epidemiology* are being increasingly used to address questions relating to the geographic distribution of infectious diseases and the design of control strategies.

We are seeking submissions of original quantitative research articles on influenza, cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, measles, Zika virus, Ebola virus disease, among others, that present significant insights into one or more of the following:

• Explaining spatial patterns of infectious diseases through quantitative analyses that make use of spatially resolved socio-demographic and epidemiological datasets;
• Understanding/predicting spatio-temporal transmission dynamics;
• Predicting the impact of control interventions that are driven by geographical factors;
• Designing/evaluating optimal resource allocation strategies that incorporate a spatial component;
• Generating cost-effectiveness analyses that incorporate a spatial component;
• Analysing inequities in healthcare based on geography.

We are particularly interested in papers focusing on geostatistical analyses of data, and transmission or economic models. 

We would welcome direct submission of original research that meets the above criteria – please submit directly to BMC Medicine stating in your cover letter that you are targeting the spatial epidemiology collection. Alternatively, you can email your pre-submission queries to bmcmedicineeditorial@biomedcentral.com.

Gerardo Chowell provided guidance on scope of this article collection and advised on commissioned content, but was not involved in editorial decision-making on papers submitted. The responsibility for all final editorial decisions was with the Chief Editor.

* ^{“Spatial epidemiology is the description and analysis of geographic variations in disease with respect to demographic, environmental, behavioral, socioeconomic, genetic, and infectious risk factors.” [Elliott P, Wartenberg D. Spatial Epidemiology: Current Approaches and Future Challenges. Environ Health Perspect. 2004; 112(9): 998–1006.]}