Extramural Research
Abstract: Using remotely sensed data to identify areas at risk for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
Grantee Research Project Results
Citation: Glass, G.E., Cheek, J.E., Patz, J.A., Shields, T.M., Doyle, T.J., Thoroughman, D.A., Hunt, D.K., Enscore, R.E., Gage, K.L., Irland, C., Peters, C.J., and R. Bryan. 2000. Using remotely sensed data to identify areas at risk for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Emerging Infectious Diseases 6(3): 238-47.
Abstract::
The 1993 U.S. hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) outbreak was attributed
to environmental conditions and increased rodent populations caused by unusual
weather in 1991- 92. In a case-control study to test this hypothesis, we
estimated precipitation at 28 HPS and 170 control sites during the springs
of 1992 and 1993 and compared it with precipitation during the previous 6
years by using rainfall patterns at 196 weather stations. We also used elevation
data and Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery collected the year before
the outbreak to estimate HPS risk by logistic regression analysis. Rainfall
at case sites was not higher during 1992-93 than in previous years. However,
elevation, as well as satellite data, showed association between environmental
conditions and HPS risk the following year. Repeated analysis using satellite
imagery from 1995 showed substantial decrease in medium- to high-risk areas.
Only one case of HPS was identified in 1996.