We'll search for an answer on this hour of Science Friday. By tracking rainfall, vegetation patterns, and other climate signs using satellite data, researchers have been able to keep tabs on areas of the globe that may be ripe for disease. In this week's issue of the journal Science, researchers report that they have used satellite data to successfully predict outbreaks of Rift Valley fever, a mosquito-borne disease. Other scientists have been using satellites to monitor potential hotspots of diseases such as hantavirus and Lyme disease. We'll talk about the possibilities of using remote sensing to help predict diseases, and whether or not information from space can be used in time to allow public health workers to squelch potential epidemics before they start.
Scientists can monitor phytoplankton in the Indian Ocean - and use that to help predict cholera.
Science, July 16, 1999. Nature, July 8, 1999. SciFri El Nino Wrapup, April 10, 1998. Inc. All Rights Reserved.