Project Number: 6615-32000-045-20
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jul 01, 2011
End Date: Jun 30, 2013

Objective:
Develop risk assessment models and maps to successfully defend U.S. agricultural systems against an introduction of Rift Valley fever.

Approach:
Incorporate additional climatological, land surface, and vector data, to improve the operational configuration of the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) risk model in endemic regions of Africa and the Middle East. Develop a GIS/remotely sensed early warning model system for potential RVF risk in the U.S. using mosquito surveillance data collected by mosquito control and public helath agencies, and climate data measured by satellites, such as NDVI, and terrestrial weather stations. The (1) timing, distribution, and abundance of competent vechors, (2) spatial distributions/interactions of the disease and its vector, and (3) availability of susceptible human, livestock and wildlife population data will also be analyzed to assess the potential risk of spread of RVF in the U.S.