Abstract
International travel offers an extensive network for new and recurring human-mediated introductions of exotic infectious pathogens and biota, freeing geographical constraints. We present a predictive census-travel model that integrates international travel with endpoint census data and epidemiological characteristics to predict points of introduction. Population demographics, inbound and outbound travel patterns, and quantification of source strength by country are combined to estimate and rank risk of introduction at user-scalable land parcel areas (e.g. state, county, zip code, census tract, gridded landscapes (1 mi2, 5 km2, etc.)). This risk ranking by parcel can be used to develop pathogen surveillance programmes, and has been incorporated in multiple US state/federal surveillance protocols. The census-travel model is versatile and independent of pathosystems, and applies a risk algorithm to generate risk maps for plant, human and animal contagions at different spatial scales. An interactive, user-friendly interface is available online (https://epi-models.shinyapps.io/Census_Travel/) to provide ease-of-use for regulatory agencies for early detection of high-risk exotics. The interface allows users to parametrize and run the model without knowledge of background code and underpinning data.This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: epidemic forecasting and control’. This theme issue is linked with the earlier issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: approaches and important themes’.
Highlights
Emerging pests, pathogens and infectious diseases pose significant threats to public health security, agricultural productivity and ecological diversity
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: epidemic forecasting and control’. This theme issue is linked with the earlier issue ‘Modelling infectious disease outbreaks in humans, animals and plants: approaches and important themes’
Reliable estimates for invasion pathways are of critical importance to develop appropriate management strategies and regulatory policies. These initial introductions of exotic pathogens and pests by definition occur in very low incidence, and are challenging to detect (‘finding a needle in a haystack’)
Summary
Pathogens and infectious diseases pose significant threats to public health security, agricultural productivity and ecological diversity. Awareness of the damaging impacts from non-indigenous pest and disease introduction has increased substantially, and regulatory agencies have strengthened their efforts to prevent such introductions through quarantines and other proactive protocols [8]. Reliable estimates for invasion pathways are of critical importance to develop appropriate management strategies and regulatory policies. These initial introductions of exotic pathogens and pests by definition occur in very low incidence, and are challenging to detect (‘finding a needle in a haystack’). Introductions can occur in animal populations dispersed across broad areas, across the entire extent of human population or across wideranging geographical landscapes of mixed agricultural/residential areas, from
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