Objective

• In this case study develop maps for analyzing outbreaks of food borne illness in Pittsburgh, PA. I will also analyze various outbreak scenarios and develop a strategy for identifying outbreak sources, identifying high risk zones for infection, and assessing populations that are vulnerable to food borne illness outbreaks, in order to prevent the spread of outbreak and effectively treat affected populations.

Approach

• Phase 1: build a basemap containing the geocoded locations of foodsources within Pittsburgh, PA, including bakeries, restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores.

• Phase 2: Geocode the home addresses and work addresses of individuals infected with Hepatitis A and compare these locations to the geocodedfood source layer, in order to identify potential sources of the outbreak.

• Phase 3: Use the known origin of the Hepatitis A outbreak to conduct a buffer analysis to identify high buildings located in close proximity to the origin of the outbreak and that may have been affected.

• Phase 4: Assess populations that are vulnerable to food supplies that have been compromised by a natural disaster. I will identify the locations with the highest concentrations of populations most vulnerable to food borne illness, in order for the health department to prioritize these locations and ensure the safety of the food supply.

Limitations

• Lack of familiarity with the area.

– Inability to rematch all geocoded food sources in basemap. If this were an actual outbreak, it would be necessary to identify all possible origin location of the food borne illness.

Phase 1-Basemap

Food Source LocationsPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

City of Pittsburgh, 2011Allegheny County Health Department, 2005

Phase 2-Tracing Outbreak SourcesAnalysis of Possible Outbreak Sources within 500 feet of Outbreak Work Locations

Central Business District Neighborhood, Pittsburgh

Phase 2-Tracing Outbreak SourcesAnalysis of Outbreak Sources

Central Business District Neighborhood, Pittsburgh

• Food Sources Identified as Possible Origin of Outbreak:– Restaurants:

• Beanies, Simply Subs, Pasta Al Dente, PNC Bank 15th Floor Cafeteria, PNC Bank 30th

Floor Cafeteria, Little China Warner Center, Gr & Deli, Warner Café, Steel City Steak, The Kennedy Deli, Valerie’s, Generic Deli, AHN Chinese Express, Grilled Chicken King & Steak, Billy’s, Dayoub’s Restaurant, A La Carte, The Different Twist Pretzel, Mark Pi Express, Epheus, Madonna’s, Cazamil, K & F Luncheonette, Mango’s Mediterranean Café, Hot Dogma, Asiago Express

– Bakeries:• Jenny Lee Bakery #14

– Retail Convenience Stores:• 7 Eleven # 167

• 7 Eleven # 170

Phase 3-Identify Affected Office BuildingsOffice Buildings within ¼ Mile of Outbreak Origin

High Risk of Exposure to Food Borne DiseaseCentral Business District, Pittsburgh

City of Pittsburgh, 2011Allegheny County Health Department, 2005

Phase 4-Assess Vulnerable PopulationAnalysis of Food Sources Effected by Flooding and Most Vulnerable

PopulationsPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

City of Pittsburgh, 2011Allegheny County Health Department, 2005

Phase 4-Assess Vulnerable PopulationAnalysis of Food Sources Effected by Flooding and Most Vulnerable

PopulationsPittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Population Statistics:– 0-.5 Mile Buffer

• Total Population: 56,623

• Total Population Under 5 years old: 2,520

• Population 65 years old and over: 9,382

– .51-1 Mile Buffer• Total Population: 74,364

• Total Population Under 5 years old: 4,329

• Population 65 years old and over: 12,989

Future Work

• Phase 1: Rematch all addresses in order to ensure that all possible origins of the outbreak are identified.

• Phase 2: Knowledge of restaurants and common lunch locations would be useful in identifying possible outbreak origins.

• Phase 3: A multiple ring buffer analysis would be useful in identifying buildings with workers who are most likely to walk to Generic Deli. It would also be useful to ad a layer with other restaurants near high risk buildings, since people with a short lunch break may choose the closest options to their office for lunch; this would be useful in prioritizing what buildings to focus on first.

• Phase 4: It would be useful to analyze the total population surrounding each individual food source, rather than in each buffer ring, in order to determine which locations have the highest potential traffic.