Regresar

Interpolating an Eigen-Decomposed Aedes Aegypti Swimming Pool Habitat for Implementing “Seek and Destroy” Larval Source Management in Los Angeles County, California

Abstract:

The notable increase in cases and the emergence of local transmission in Los Angeles County underscore the pressing need to understand and effectively manage dengue and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. This study aims to develop accurate predictive models for identifying previously unknown Ae. aegypti swimming pool habitats, focusing on factors such as land classifications, vegetation cover, and discontinuous elevation. The ultimate objective is to implement targeted larval source management using the Seek & Destroy approach to control Ae. aegypti populations in Los Angeles County. To achieve this, a land use/land cover, normalized difference vegetation index, and digital elevation models were constructed in ArcGIS to use for analysis. Through interpolation of swimming pool habitats, identification of clusters of hot and cold spots was achieved. The results showed a Global Moran’s Index of 0.762, a z-score of 7.18, and a p-value of less than 0.05, indicating a significant result. This p-value indicated rejection of the null hypothesis of random autocorrelation, thereby accepting the alternative hypothesis. Hot spots were predominantly clustered in low elevation areas, aligning with local transmission patterns observed in Los Angeles County. Conversely, cold spots were primarily located in mountainous, high elevation regions. These results contribute valuable insights for targeted mosquito control strategies in the region.