title: A Rift Valley fever risk surveillance system for Africa using remotely sensed data: potential for use on other continents.
abstract: The authors developed a monitoring and risk mapping system using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) times series data derived from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) instrument on polar orbiting national oceanographic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) satellites to map areas with a potential for a Rift Valley fever (RVF) outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa. This system is potentially an important tool for local, national and international organisations involved in the prevention and control of animal and human disease, permitting focused and timely implementation of disease control strategies several months before an outbreak. We are currently developing a geographic information system (GIS)-based remotely sensed early warning system for potential RVF vectors in the United States. Forecasts of the potential emergence of mosquito vectors will be disseminated throughout the United States, providing several months' warning in advance of potentially elevated mosquito populations. This would allow timely, targeted implementation of mosquito control, animal quarantine and vaccine strategies to reduce or prevent animal and human disease.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology, 1600/1700 SW 23rd Drive, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA. Kenneth.Linthicum@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Kenneth J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Linthicum
authors.forename: Assaf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anyamba
authors.forename: Seth C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Britch
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chretien
authors.forename: Ralph L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Erickson
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: Compton J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Kristine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Schmidtmann
authors.forename: Theodore G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Andreadis
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Jerome E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Freier
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Ryan S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Drolet
authors.forename: Scott N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Christy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tedrow
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Strickman
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.forename: Gary G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zou