2. 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.

3. 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 geocoded
food 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.

4. 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.

5. Phase 1-Basemap
Food Source Locations
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
City of Pittsburgh, 2011
Allegheny County Health Department, 2005

6. Phase 2-Tracing Outbreak Sources
Analysis of Possible Outbreak Sources within 500 feet of Outbreak Work Locations
Central Business District Neighborhood, Pittsburgh

7. Phase 2-Tracing Outbreak Sources
Analysis 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

8. Phase 3-Identify Affected Office Buildings
Office Buildings within ¼ Mile of Outbreak Origin
High Risk of Exposure to Food Borne Disease
Central Business District, Pittsburgh
City of Pittsburgh, 2011
Allegheny County Health Department, 2005

9. Phase 4-Assess Vulnerable Population
Analysis of Food Sources Effected by Flooding and Most Vulnerable
Populations
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
City of Pittsburgh, 2011
Allegheny County Health Department, 2005

10. Phase 4-Assess Vulnerable Population
Analysis of Food Sources Effected by Flooding and Most Vulnerable
Populations
Pittsburgh, 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

11. 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.