A time-space investigation of the epidemiology of fowl cholera

The temporal and spatial interaction of fowl cholera outbreaks in turkeys, occurring between August 1985 and July 1986 in California, were examined, During this period a total of 53 outbreaks occurred in 720 flocks at risk, Forty-nine of these flocks were examined in a previous case-control study designed to elucidate outbreak risk factors, In this study the spatial and temporal distributions of those outbreaks were examined in order to test for the possibility of transmission between neighboring flocks. Results showed outbreak flocks were clustered in time and space when critical times (7-30 days) and distances (from 1.6 to 16 kms.) were examined using the Knox test. These results provide additional information on the transmission of fowl cholera among turkey premises and support the need for time-space clustering methodologies in epidemiologic investigations.