Earth observations for prediction of water-borne diseases: Lessons learned from Cholera
Abstract
Water-borne diseases remain a significant public health burden, especially in regions where human vulnerability intersect with inadequate availability of water and sanitation infrastructure (WASH). An ideal solution to reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases is to develop robust and resilient WASH infrastructure. However, this is a cost prohibitive undertaking on a short time scales. Therefore, we need to develop alternate mechanisms so that human impacts from outbreak of such diseases can be minimized. Growth and survival of several pathogens that cause diarrheal diseases are associated with modalities of hydroclimatological processes, which can be estimated or obtained from various earth observing satellites. Using example from cholera, we will show how our team was able to develop prediction models for risk of cholera by relying on earth observations and then how such information has been used by various stakeholders in different parts of the globe. It is worth mentioning that over last several years, significant number outbreaks of cholera (a preventable disease) are reported in the aftermath of natural and man-made disasters. Using information collected and analyzed from over last five decades, we are able to predict risk of occurrence of cholera at various spatial and temporal scales. Our ultimate goal is a thematic vision of "Cholera Ready Nations" where satellite based prediction (of risk of trigger and likelihood of transmission of cholera in the human population) will provide sustainable and resilient readiness to prevent outbreak of disease, saving human lives and improving quality of life.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMGH21B1203J
- Keywords:
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- 0230 Impacts of climate change: human health;
- GEOHEALTH;
- 0240 Public health;
- GEOHEALTH;
- 0245 Vector born diseases;
- GEOHEALTH;
- 0299 General or miscellaneous;
- GEOHEALTH