Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2010, 7, 1708-1719; doi:10.3390/ijerph7041708 OPEN ACCESS International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ISSN 1660-4601 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph Article Updating the Northern Tsetse Limit in Burkina Faso (1949–2009): Impact of Global Change Fabrice Courtin 1, Jean-Baptiste Rayaissé2, Issa Tamboura 3, Oumar Serdébéogo 3, ZowindéKoudougou 3, Philippe Solano 1,* and Issa Sidibé2,3 1 Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR 177 IRD-CIRAD, Centre International de Recherche Développement sur l’Élevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES), 01 BP 454, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; E-Mail: courtinfabrice@yahoo.fr 2 Centre International de Recherche Développement sur l’Elevage en zone Subhumide (CIRDES), 01 BP 454, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso; E-Mails: jbrayaisse@hotmail.com (J.-B.R.); sambo@fasonet.bf (I.S.) 3 PATTEC-PCZLD, Bobo-Dioulasso, 01 BP 1087, Burkina Faso; E-Mails: issayero_tamboura@yahoo.fr (I.T.); serdebeogo@hotmail.com (O.S.); zowinde@yahoo.com (Z.K.) * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: solano@ird.bf; Tel.: +226-20-98-51-94, Fax: +226-20-970-942. Received: 22 January 2010; in revised form: 4 March 2010 / Accepted: 12 March 2010 / Published: 15 April 2010 Abstract: The northern distribution limit of tsetse flies was updated in Burkina Faso and compared to previous limits to revise the existing map of these vectors of African trypanosomiases dating from several decades ago. From 1949 to 2009, a 25- to 150-km shift has appeared toward the south. Tsetse are now discontinuously distributed in Burkina Faso with a western and an eastern tsetse belt. This range shift can be explained by a combination of decreased rainfall and increased human density. Within a context of international control, this study provides a better understanding of the factors influencing the distribution of tsetse flies. Keywords: tsetse; northern distribution limit; Burkina Faso; population growth; climate change; control