Prediction, assessment of the Rift Valley fever activity in east and southern Africa 2006-2008 and possible vector control strategies

Assaf Anyamba, Kenneth J. Linthicum, Jennifer Small, Seth C. Britch, Edwin Pak, Stephane De La Rocque, Pierre Formenty, Allen W. Hightower, Robert F. Breiman, Jean Paul Chretien, Compton J. Tucker, David Schnabel, Rosemary Sang, Karl Haagsma, Mark Latham, Henry B. Lewandowski, Salih Osman Magdi, Mohamed Ally Mohamed, Patrick M. Nguku, Jean Marc ReynesRobert Swanepoel

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

152 Scopus citations

Abstract

Historical outbreaks of Rift Valley fever (RVF) since the early 1950s have been associated with cyclical patterns of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, which results in elevated and widespread rainfall over the RVF endemic areas of Africa. Using satellite measurements of global and regional elevated sea surface temperatures, elevated rainfall, and satellite derived-normalized difference vegetation index data, we predicted with lead times of 2-4 months areas where outbreaks of RVF in humans and animals were expected and occurred in the Horn of Africa, Sudan, and Southern Africa at different time periods from September 2006 to March 2008. Predictions were confirmed by entomological field investigations of virus activity and by reported cases of RVF in human and livestock populations. This represents the first series of prospective predictions of RVF outbreaks and provides a baseline for improved early warning, control, response planning, and mitigation into the future.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)43-51
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume83
Issue number2 SUPPL.
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010

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