Snow's method

Snow's method, developed by John Snow in the mid-1800s, is a way to identify the source of a disease outbreak by mapping cases geographically. He plotted the locations of cholera cases on a map and analyzed their distribution, which pointed to a common water source—the Broad Street pump—as the cause. This technique, called spatial analysis or mapping epidemiology, allows public health officials to visualize patterns and identify sources of infection or other health issues, leading to targeted interventions. It highlights how geography can be crucial in understanding and controlling disease spread.