Spatial epidemiology

Spread of infectious diseases

After finishing my doctoral work, I moved to Copenhagen to take a position as post-doctoral researcher in Spatial Epidemiology.

Purpose: Understanding the spatial dynamics of infectious diseases. Contribute to the eradication of mink plasmacytosis in Danish mink farms. The disease has important economic consequences for the mink industry in Denmark, one of the most important exporting goods of the country.

Results: A significant higher than expected number of cases of mink plasmacytosis was found in the north of Denmark throughout the 2000’s [P8]. The area where these cases occur has an extent of ca. 30 km2 and is characterized by a high density of mink farms and a larger number of animals per farm. Further analysis revealed that farm size and the proportion of infected neighbours in the area were significant risk factors for the disease [P9].

Skills acquired: Spatial modelling, logistic regression, disease mapping, spatial scan statistics.

Derived applications: These analyses are useful for decision makers, as they can adjust eradication programs to focus on higher risk areas, making more efficient use of limited resources. It is also useful for communicating with farmers, explaining what the most important risk factors are and what they can do to protect their production from disease. We reported these findings in the national fur farmers’ association newsletter.

The project also involved scientific and technical support for 3 PhD students, which includes data analysis, manuscript preparation, and the organization of a seminar on register-based research and health geographics.

Collaborators:

• Annette Kjaer Ersboll
• Sharmin Chowdhury
• Syed Ahmed
• Marianne Sandberg
• Hans Houe
• Jens Frederik Agger
• Jorgen Ostergaard
• Charlotte Salomonsen