Investigation of tuberculosis clusters in Dehradun city of India

ObjectiveTo investigate the presence of statistically significant geographical clusters of tuberculosis (TB) using Geographical Information System and spatial scan statistics in Dehradun, India.MethodsThe spatial scan statistic implemented with a software program, SaTScan v6.1, was used to test the presence of statistically significant spatial clusters of TB and to identify their approximate locations (P< 0.05 for primary clusters and P<0.1 for secondary clusters). Geographical Information System was used for geographical analysis.ResultsSignificant high rate spatial clusters were identified in seven wards of the Dehradun Municipal area.ConclusionsThere is sufficient evidence about the existence of statistically significant TB clusters in seven wards of Dehradun, India. The purely spatial scan statistics methodology used in this study has a potential use in surveillance of TB for detecting the true clusters of the disease.