Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Degree Granting Department

Geography, Environment and Planning

Major Professor

Yi Qiang, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Kamal Alsharif, Ph.D.

Committee Member

He Jin, Ph.D.

Keywords

Geits-Ord Gi*, Monkeypox, Moran’s I, OLS

Abstract

Monkeypox is a rare viral disease that is usually transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals, such as rodents or primates. Although its symptoms are similar to those of smallpox, monkeypox is generally less severe and rarely fatal. In recent years, however, there has been an uptick in the number of reported cases, with a large outbreak occurring in several parts of the world in May 2022. This has raised concerns among public health officials and researchers, who are working to better understand the factors that contribute to the spread of the disease. One promising approach to studying the epidemiology of monkeypox is through the use of geographic information systems (GIS). By mapping the spatial distribution of the disease and analyzing its relationship to various environmental and socioeconomic factors, researchers can gain valuable insights into how monkeypox is transmitted and what measures can be taken to prevent its spread. In this study, we collected data on a range of socioeconomic, environmental, and demographic factors and used GIS to identify patterns in the incidence of monkeypox. We found that monkeypox outbreaks show strong spatial autocorrelation and were mainly concentrated in the northeastern United States. Socio-economic factors such as per capita income, the proportion of same-sex families, race, population density, and age structure all had a significant impact on the incidence of the disease. This information could be used to develop targeted interventions aimed at reducing the spread of monkeypox in affected areas.

Download

Share

COinS