Satellite derived forest phenology and its relation with nephropathia epidemica in Belgium.
The connection between nephropathia epidemica (NE) and vegetation dynamics has been emphasized in recent studies. Changing climate has been suggested as a triggering factor of recently observed epidemiologic peaks in reported NE cases. We have investigated whether there is a connection between the NE occurrence pattern in Belgium and specific trends in remotely sensed phenology parameters of broad-leaved forests. The analysis of time series of the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index revealed that changes in forest phenology, considered in literature as an effect of climate change, may affect the mechanics of NE transmission.
Barrios
José Miguel
JM
Biosystems Department, M3-BIORES, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 34, Leuven, Belgium. miguel.barrios@biw.kuleuven.be
Verstraeten
Willem W
WW
Maes
Piet
P
Clement
Jan
J
Aerts
Jean-Marie
JM
Haredasht
Sara Amirpour
SA
Wambacq
Julie
J
Lagrou
Katrien
K
Ducoffre
Geneviève
G
Van Ranst
Marc
M
Berckmans
Daniel
D
Coppin
Pol
P
D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002980:Climate; D005843:Geography; D006476:Orthohantavirus; D006480:Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012307:Risk Factors; D018531:Spacecraft / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014197:Trees