Masters Degrees (Geography)

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Browsing Masters Degrees (Geography) by Author "Dlamini, Khethiwe"

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    Understanding the spatial distribution and factors responsible for cloven hooved foot and mouth disease spread in Umkhanyakude district, South Africa
    (University of the Free State, 2017-12) Dlamini, Khethiwe; Adelabu, Samuel; Mahasa, Pululu
    Recent global reports show a continual vulnerability of large livestock populations to transboundary diseases such as cloven hooved foot and mouth disease (FMD) in relation to our environments. Of a particular concern is the spatial distribution of disease occurrences and its association with risk factors. Domesticated animals such as cattle are at risk of contracting the highly contagious FMDV that manifests with different distribution of serotypes across the world. FMD serotypes i.e. South African territory (SAT 1, SAT2, SAT3) are restricted to South African countries. Despite the several reports of FMD in Umkhanyakude district, few reports have utilized GIS (Geographical information system) technology for mapping the environmental factors and the disease concerned. In Umkhanyakude, Jozini and Umhlabuyalingana shoulder the highest FMD burden. In the present study, GIS was used to map FMD occurrences and to identify geographic areas with on-going FMD occurrences for the study period (2011-2015). MCDA was carried out to determine factors with the major influence on the spread of FMD. Weights were then assigned into percentage from Oto 100% using an evaluation scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being extremely important, and 1 being of equal importance. Correlation analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between spatial occurrence of FMD and factors such as distance, herd size, rainfall, wind and temperature, correlation coefficient ranges from 1 to -1. Results revealed that there is a spatial relationship between FMD occurrences and factors concerned, areas with high vulnerability towards the spread of the disease were identified. Spatial distribution of the environmental factors, and vulnerability maps were derived to characterise the spatial pattern of FMD.