Mapping Yellow Fever Clusters in 1878 New Orleans
Author Information
Author(s): Curtis Andrew J
Primary Institution: University of Southern California
Hypothesis
Can different spatial patterns of disease occurrence be observed at different geographic scales of analysis?
Conclusion
The study found that cultural connections may play a more significant role in disease spread than mere geographic proximity.
Supporting Evidence
- Twenty-two yellow fever clusters were identified for the French Quarter.
- Italian nativity mortalities were more densely grouped than other cohorts.
- The study utilized three-dimensional GIS visualization to analyze disease spread.
- Clusters were formed based on proximity and cultural connections.
- Children under 16 made up 58% of the total death toll during the epidemic.
Takeaway
This study looked at how yellow fever spread in New Orleans in 1878 and found that where people lived and their cultural backgrounds affected how the disease spread.
Methodology
Mortality data was mapped using GIS, focusing on the French Quarter and analyzing clusters based on geographic and cultural connections.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include underreporting during the epidemic and cultural reporting biases.
Limitations
Historic data may include misdiagnosis, data entry errors, and cultural reporting biases.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on yellow fever mortalities in the French Quarter, including various nativity groups.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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