See also:
» 25.02.2013 - Released captive elephants "do fine in the wild"
» 05.10.2010 - Scientists create African banana Wiki
» 27.09.2010 - Cowpea scientists promise to end African hunger
» 09.07.2010 - Researchers seek climate change-proof food crops
» 01.07.2010 - Warmer Lake Tanganyika threatens fisheries
» 30.03.2010 - "Myths hinder potential of cassava in Africa"
» 29.03.2010 - Nigerian scientists to revolutionise cowpea breeding
» 05.03.2010 - Drumstick tree can provide Africa with clean water











China wholesale online through DHgate.com


Houlihan's coupons


Finn autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden på Verdensmat.no:
Gazpacho Børek Kartoffelsalat Taboulé Gulasj Albóndigas Cevapi Rougaille Japrak sarma Zwiebelbrot Klopse Giouvetsi Paella Pljeskavica Pica pau Pulpo a la gallega Flammkuchen Langosj Tapenade Chatsjapuri Pasulj Lassi Kartoffelpuffer Tortilla Raznjici Knödel Lentejas Bœuf bourguignon Korianderchutney Brenneslesuppe Proia Sæbsi kavurma Sardinske calamares


Autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden finner du på Verdensmat.no:
Réunion Portugal Aserbajdsjan Serbia Tyskland Seychellene Bosnia Spania Libanon Belgia India Kroatia Hellas Italia Ungarn Komorene Georgia Mauritius Østerrike Romania Frankrike


Africa
Science - Education | Health

Climate models to predict African disease outbreak

afrol News, 16 April - African and European researchers are to join forces in a new project that is to use climate modelling to predict outbreaks of diseases in Senegal, Ghana and Malawi.

In the new project, researchers across 13 European and African research institutes are set to work together to integrate data from climate modelling and disease forecasting systems to predict the likelihood of an epidemic up to six months in advance.

The research, funded by the European Commission is set to focus on climate and disease in Senegal, Ghana and Malawi and aims to give decision makers the necessary time to deploy intervention methods to help prevent large scale spread of diseases such as Rift Valley Fever and malaria.

It is thought that climate change may change global disease distributions, and although scientists have significant knowledge of the climate triggers for particular diseases, more research is needed to understand how far into the future these events can be predicted. The work is to bring together experts in science and health to investigate the link between climate and vector-borne diseases, including zoonotic diseases transferred from animals to humans.

Dr Andy Morse, from the Liverpool School of Environmental Sciences, said: "We know that climate variability has a significant impact on the incidence of human and animal diseases. In Africa, where the relationship between climate change and health is becoming recognised, human and animal disease has a particular effect on economic development.

"It is vital therefore," Mr Morse added, "that we improve our understanding of the climate triggers for disease and the forecasting systems used to predict outcomes."

Scientists already know that the risk of epidemics in tropical countries increases shortly after a season of good rainfall – when heat and humidity allow insects, such as mosquitoes, to thrive. These insects can cause the spread of disease such as malaria and Rift Valley Fever, but there are a number of factors to consider before reliable predictions can be made.

Professor Matthew Baylis, from the Liverpool School of Veterinary Science, explains: "Rift Valley Fever can spread amongst the human and animal population during periods of heavy rain, when flood water mosquitoes flourish and lay their eggs."

"If this rainfall occurs unexpectedly during the dry season, when cattle are kept in the villages rather than out on the land, the mosquitoes can infect the animals at the drinking ponds. Humans can then contract the disease by eating infected animals," Mr Baylis adds. "Working with partners in Africa, we can bring this information together to build a much more accurate picture of when to expect epidemics."

Mr Morse continued: "We will look at historical and contemporary climate data and combine it with disease incidence information, as well as integrating monthly and seasonal forecasts into a single seamless forecast system that will allow disease risk projections to be made beyond the conventional predictable time-limit. We will also look at data for vector-borne diseases and integrate them into the forecasting model. All this information will be fed into a decision support system to be developed with decision makers on national health issues."


- Create an e-mail alert for Africa news
- Create an e-mail alert for Science - Education news
- Create an e-mail alert for Health news


 
    Printable version


On the Afrol News front page now

Rwanda
Rwanda succeeds including citizens in formal financial sector

afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.

Famine warning: "South Sudan is imploding"

afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
Guinea
Panic in West Africa after Ebola outbreak in Guinea

afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws

afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia plans Africa's biggest dam

afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.



front page | news | countries | archive | currencies | news alerts login | about afrol News | contact | advertise | español 

©  afrol News. Reproducing or buying afrol News' articles.

   You can contact us at mail@afrol.com