title: Satellite derived forest phenology and its relation with nephropathia epidemica in Belgium.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Biosystems Department, M3-BIORES, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Willem de Croylaan 34, Leuven, Belgium. miguel.barrios@biw.kuleuven.be
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Barrios
authors.forename: Willem W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Verstraeten
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Aerts
authors.forename: Sara Amirpour
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Haredasht
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wambacq
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lagrou
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ducoffre
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Ranst
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berckmans
authors.forename: Pol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coppin
mesh_terms: 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