Identifying Areas at Risk for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Using Remote Sensing
Author Information
Author(s): Gregory E. Glass, James E. Cheek, Jonathan A. Patz, Timothy M. Shields, Timothy J. Doyle, Douglas A. Thoroughman, Darcy K. Hunt, Russell E. Enscore, Kenneth L. Gage, Charles Irland, C. J. Peters, Ralph Bryan
Primary Institution: The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health
Hypothesis
The El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) of 1991-92 was the major climatic factor producing environmental conditions leading to the outbreak of HPS in 1993.
Conclusion
Satellite imagery combined with epidemiologic surveillance identified areas at high risk for HPS associated with rodent populations during the 1993 outbreak.
Supporting Evidence
- Satellite imagery identified environmental conditions near HPS sites that were measurably different from non-HPS sites.
- Spring precipitation patterns showed substantial interannual variation at case and control sites.
- HPS cases were spatially clustered, indicating non-random distribution.
Takeaway
Scientists used satellite images and weather data to find places where people might get sick from a virus carried by mice, helping to predict future outbreaks.
Methodology
A case-control study comparing environmental conditions at HPS case sites and control sites using precipitation data and satellite imagery.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from selecting controls from the same health clinics as HPS patients.
Limitations
The study may not accurately represent sporadic HPS cases due to the rarity of the disease and potential biases in control selection.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 28 HPS cases and 170 control individuals from the same geographic and socioeconomic region.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
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