Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010

This paper aims to study the spatial structure of deaths due to the A(H1N1)pdm09 swine virus in Greece in order to identify vulnerable and resilient regions. The study period refers to the school year 2009-2010 when a swine flu pandemic took place affecting large numbers of the population including...

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Main Authors: Leonidas DOUKISSAS, Stamatis KALOGIROU, Cleon TSIMBOS
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Association of Geographers 2018-10-01
Series:European Journal of Geography
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Online Access:https://eurogeojournal.eu/index.php/egj/article/view/134
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author Leonidas DOUKISSAS
Stamatis KALOGIROU
Cleon TSIMBOS
author_facet Leonidas DOUKISSAS
Stamatis KALOGIROU
Cleon TSIMBOS
author_sort Leonidas DOUKISSAS
collection DOAJ
description This paper aims to study the spatial structure of deaths due to the A(H1N1)pdm09 swine virus in Greece in order to identify vulnerable and resilient regions. The study period refers to the school year 2009-2010 when a swine flu pandemic took place affecting large numbers of the population including students. The deaths due to the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus have been recorded in Greece by the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP). Based on these deaths and the 2011 Census for Population statistics, we calculated the Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) as well as the A(H1N1)pdm09 age-specific death rates. The statistical significance of SMRs was evaluated using a chi-square test, while Empirical Bayesian procedures were employed to smooth the observed standardized mortality ratios. The geography of the analysis refers to the 13 administrative regions in Greece (EU NUTS II). The results are interesting, and the spatial patterns suggest significant inequalities in the SMRs across these regions. At the same time, we discuss the possible failure of the vaccine coverage, especially in regions where our study revealed most affected, in order to help policymakers to be better prepares for a future epidemic.
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publishDate 2018-10-01
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spelling doaj-art-9e18d368265f4ef8a5202bab999a2c182025-08-20T02:58:19ZengEuropean Association of GeographersEuropean Journal of Geography1792-13412410-74332018-10-0192Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010Leonidas DOUKISSASStamatis KALOGIROUCleon TSIMBOS This paper aims to study the spatial structure of deaths due to the A(H1N1)pdm09 swine virus in Greece in order to identify vulnerable and resilient regions. The study period refers to the school year 2009-2010 when a swine flu pandemic took place affecting large numbers of the population including students. The deaths due to the A(H1N1)pdm09 virus have been recorded in Greece by the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (HCDCP). Based on these deaths and the 2011 Census for Population statistics, we calculated the Standardized Mortality Ratios (SMRs) as well as the A(H1N1)pdm09 age-specific death rates. The statistical significance of SMRs was evaluated using a chi-square test, while Empirical Bayesian procedures were employed to smooth the observed standardized mortality ratios. The geography of the analysis refers to the 13 administrative regions in Greece (EU NUTS II). The results are interesting, and the spatial patterns suggest significant inequalities in the SMRs across these regions. At the same time, we discuss the possible failure of the vaccine coverage, especially in regions where our study revealed most affected, in order to help policymakers to be better prepares for a future epidemic. https://eurogeojournal.eu/index.php/egj/article/view/134Pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09, Standardized Mortality Ratio, Regional Analysis, spatial analysis, empirical Bayesian Smoothing
spellingShingle Leonidas DOUKISSAS
Stamatis KALOGIROU
Cleon TSIMBOS
Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010
European Journal of Geography
Pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09, Standardized Mortality Ratio, Regional Analysis, spatial analysis, empirical Bayesian Smoothing
title Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010
title_full Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010
title_fullStr Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010
title_full_unstemmed Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010
title_short Spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus A(H1N1)pdm09 during the pandemic in Greece in 2009 – 2010
title_sort spatial patterns of smrs due to the virus a h1n1 pdm09 during the pandemic in greece in 2009 2010
topic Pandemic A(H1N1)pdm09, Standardized Mortality Ratio, Regional Analysis, spatial analysis, empirical Bayesian Smoothing
url https://eurogeojournal.eu/index.php/egj/article/view/134
work_keys_str_mv AT leonidasdoukissas spatialpatternsofsmrsduetothevirusah1n1pdm09duringthepandemicingreecein20092010
AT stamatiskalogirou spatialpatternsofsmrsduetothevirusah1n1pdm09duringthepandemicingreecein20092010
AT cleontsimbos spatialpatternsofsmrsduetothevirusah1n1pdm09duringthepandemicingreecein20092010