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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #315818
Research Project: Biting Arthropod Surveillance and Control

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Extreme Weather Events and Impacts on Vector-borne Diseases and Agriculture

Author
item Linthicum, Kenneth - Ken
item ANYAMBA, ASSAF - Goddard Space Flight Center
item Gibson, Seth
item SMALL, JENNIFER - Goddard Space Flight Center
item TUCKER, COMPTON - Goddard Space Flight Center
item PAK, EDWIN - Goddard Space Flight Center

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/26/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Extreme weather events during the period 2010-2012 impacted agriculture and vector-borne disease throughout the world. We evaluated specific weather events with satellite remotely sensed environmental data and evaluated crop production and diseases associated with these events. Significant droughts occurred in Texas (summer 2011) and East Africa (short rainy season of 2010). These droughts were associated with 50% reduction in cotton production and the largest West Nile virus outbreak in Texas, and an 80% reduction in sorghum production and the largest dengue fever outbreak in history in Somalia and Kenya. Heavy rainfall occurred in South Africa (summer1210-2011) and southeast Australia (spring 2010). This rainfall significantly increased corn production and a Rift Valley fever outbreak in northwestern South Africa, and a 95% increase in cotton production and a Murray Valley encephalitis outbreak.