Ocean
Fever Heralds African Epidemics
Scientists, using measurements
of Indian and Pacific Ocean temperatures, have developed a strategy
for predicting when East Africa will suffer from epidemics of Rift Valley
fever.
References:
Linthicum, K.J., A. Anyamba, et al. 1999. Climate and satellite
indicators to forecast Rift Valley fever epidemics in Kenya. Science
285(July 16):397.
Further Readings:
Epstein, P.R. 1999. Climate and health. Science 285(July 16):347.
Monastersky, R. 1996. Health in the
hot zone. Science News 149(April 6):218.
Travis, J. 1997. Spying diseases from the sky. Science News
152(Aug. 2):72.
The Center for Health and Global environment at Harvard Medical School
published a report called "Extreme Weather Events: The Health and
Economic Consequences of the 1997/1998 El Nino and La Nina," which
is available at http://chge2.med.harvard.edu/enso/disease.html.
Sources:
Assaf Anyamba
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Earth Sciences Directorate
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Paul R. Epstein
Harvard Medical School
Center for Health and the Global Environment
Boston, MA 02115
Thomas G. Ksiazek
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Special Pathogens Branch
Atlanta, GA 30333
Kenneth J. Linthicum
Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Department of Defense
Global Emerging Infections System
Division of Preventive Medicine
Washington, DC 20307-5100
From Science
News, Vol. 156, No. 3, July 17, 1999, p. 36.
Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
