NSU Research Contributions
Title : Satellites and Cell Phones Form a Cholera Early-Warning System
Authors : Ali S. Akanda,Sonia Aziz,Antarpreet Jutla,Anwar Huq,Munirul Alam,Ahsan G.U,Rita Colwell
Abstract : Cholera, an acute waterborne diarrheal illness, poses a major threat to global health, especially in developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Estimates suggest that cholera affects approximately 2.9 million people each year across the 69 countries in which it is endemic, and it causes an estimated 100,000 deaths annually [Ali et al., 2015]. Despite these facts, surveillance remains limited: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only about 5%–10% of the estimated active cholera cases worldwide are reported [WHO, 2017]. Not only are currently active cholera cases underreported, but also our ability to plan for future outbreaks is limited. Vulnerability assessments for specific populations and development of early-warning mechanisms are hindered by a lack of information on the roles of water in the environment and the climatic processes that drive this water environment [Akanda et al., 2014; Jutla et al., 2015]. A multidisciplinary team of scientists from the United States is working with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and Bangladesh’s North South University to address these critical problems of prediction, preparation, and prevention. The team’s new initiative combines satellite remote sensing data with ground observations to assess and predict the risk of cholera outbreaks in vulnerable populations of the country.
| Journal : EOS, Earth and Space Sciences News | Volume : 99 | Year : 2018 | Issue : 6 |
| Pages : 22 | City : | Edition : | Editors : |
| Publisher : | ISBN : | Book : | Chapter : |
| Proceeding Title : | Institution : | Issuer : | Number : |
