Florida’s Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk: Zika, Dengue, and West Nile Virus

Three heat maps that in a row. The first represents Zika transmission. The second represents Dengue transmission. And the third one represents West Nile transmission. 

Mapping that showcases the number of months when Florida temperatures are suitable for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to transmit viruses (Credit: Sadie J. Ryan, Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, 2024)  

Analysis 

    This 2024 visualization compares Florida’s mosquito-borne disease risk for Zika, Dengue, and West Nile Virus. Each map shows how many months out of the year different regions of Florida have conditions favorable for disease transmission. Darker purple areas indicate higher months of exposure risk (close to 12 months), while lighter orange areas show fewer months at risk.

Judgment – Human or AI?

    This visualization was created by a human designer, not AI. The article credits Sadie J. Ryan, an epidemiologist, for producing the maps, which strongly suggests the work was the result of expert data modeling and design rather than automated generation. The reasoning also fits what we know from the readings:

  • Design Consistency: The maps are aligned side by side with consistent scales, colors, and labeling, which suggests deliberate human design choices.
  • Domain-Specific Context: These maps communicate public health risks responsibly, the kind of work usually done by researchers who understand both epidemiology and visual communication.

 Readings:

  • Stephen Few in Now You See It emphasizes that effective visualizations reduce complexity and reveal meaningful patterns. Here, a large dataset (mosquito activity by county and month) is reduced to an easy-to-understand heatmap by location and disease.
  • Ellis & Mansmann’s Mastering the Information Age describe visual analytics as the combination of computational methods and human judgment. These maps likely used modeling software but were then refined by Ryan to ensure readability and interpretation.
  • Nathan Yau in Visualize This highlights that good graphics should tell a story. This visualization does just that: it shows how South Florida faces year-round risk, while North Florida has seasonal vulnerability.

  •  Overall Impression:
    This visualization is effective because it highlights geographic disparities in disease exposure and helps Floridians understand local health risks. It avoids “chart junk” and uses a simple, perceptually accurate color gradient that directs attention to areas of high concern.

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