Governments and public health organizations everywhere are debating what to do about the significant rises in virus and disease pandemics across the world. The rise has been clearly seen with the recent deadly Ebola outbreak in Africa and now the outbreak of the Mers virus in South Korea which is expected to spread further. 

Infectious disease experts have predicted that there will be many more deadly pandemics in the future, stating that ‘it is not a matter of if but when’. As well as recent outbreaks of Ebola and Mers, there has also been significant outbreaks of the SARS virus and the avian bird flu virus in recent years, mainly across the Middle East and Southeast Asia. This has highlighted the seriousness of the threat of these pandemics and the World Health Organization (WHO) has urged nations and local governments to start ensuring that they have emergency response plans in place for when these pandemics strike. The unpredictability and swiftness of these pandemics when they strike makes them particularly concerning and difficult to control.

Many ministries of health (MOH) and subnational departments of health (DOH) around the world have plans in place, and are sharing data as required by the updated International Health Regulations. (IHR)

Accuracy in geographic locating is essential in detecting and responding to any infectious disease outbreak.

GIS Mapping software is essential for emergency planning and response in relation to virus and disease pandemics, and its use is key in helping with the following critical key areas:

• Assessing risks.
• Evaluating threats.
• Identifying the source location of an outbreak.
• Tracking outbreaks as they spread over a wider area.
• Maintaining situational awareness.
• Documenting disparity.
• Ensuring the focused allocation of resources.
• Notifying communities.
• Minimizing disruption caused by necessary community health interventions.

 Business Mapper (a geographical location analysis tool that utilizes digital maps), is the ideal software package for emergency planning, emergency response, risk management and control in the case of virus and disease pandemics. 

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