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Climate and cholera in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the role of environmental factors and implications for epidemic preparedness

Climate and cholera in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the role of environmental factors and implications for epidemic preparedness
Climate and cholera in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the role of environmental factors and implications for epidemic preparedness
A cholera epidemic that took place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2000–2001) was employed to investigate the impact of climatic and environmental drivers on cholera dynamics. Precipitation (PRE), sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (CHL-a) data acquired from publicly available satellite and ground measurements were analysed together with disease incidence in an effort to assess the environmental contribution to the outbreak. SST (r2=0.749, lag=0 months) and PRE (r2=0.744, lag=2 months) showed strong associations with incidence. CHL-a showed a moderately strong (r2=0.656, lag=6 months) association with incidence while sea surface height (SSH) demonstrated a weak relationship with incidence (r2=0.326, lag=5 months). Our analysis tentatively supports a coastal transmission hypothesis, heavily influenced by localized PRE extremes. The role of SSH is likely attenuated by local coastal topography. Future work should clarify the mechanism linking coastal cholera reservoirs and the regional climate system to outbreaks in this region. Finally, we discuss benefits of further research in this area using extended remotely sensed and epidemiological datasets towards the development of early-warning systems and enhanced epidemic preparedness.
cholera, kwazulu-natal, remote sensing, climate, early-warning system
1438-4639
156-162
Mendelsohn, Joshua
2f03e650-5d66-41b1-bc48-e71c772f45c6
Dawson, Terry
276dbcfe-27df-48ae-a044-961156873852
Mendelsohn, Joshua
2f03e650-5d66-41b1-bc48-e71c772f45c6
Dawson, Terry
276dbcfe-27df-48ae-a044-961156873852

Mendelsohn, Joshua and Dawson, Terry (2008) Climate and cholera in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the role of environmental factors and implications for epidemic preparedness. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 211 (1-2), 156-162. (doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2006.12.002). (PMID:17383231)

Record type: Article

Abstract

A cholera epidemic that took place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2000–2001) was employed to investigate the impact of climatic and environmental drivers on cholera dynamics. Precipitation (PRE), sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (CHL-a) data acquired from publicly available satellite and ground measurements were analysed together with disease incidence in an effort to assess the environmental contribution to the outbreak. SST (r2=0.749, lag=0 months) and PRE (r2=0.744, lag=2 months) showed strong associations with incidence. CHL-a showed a moderately strong (r2=0.656, lag=6 months) association with incidence while sea surface height (SSH) demonstrated a weak relationship with incidence (r2=0.326, lag=5 months). Our analysis tentatively supports a coastal transmission hypothesis, heavily influenced by localized PRE extremes. The role of SSH is likely attenuated by local coastal topography. Future work should clarify the mechanism linking coastal cholera reservoirs and the regional climate system to outbreaks in this region. Finally, we discuss benefits of further research in this area using extended remotely sensed and epidemiological datasets towards the development of early-warning systems and enhanced epidemic preparedness.

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More information

Published date: 12 March 2008
Keywords: cholera, kwazulu-natal, remote sensing, climate, early-warning system

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 64270
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/64270
ISSN: 1438-4639
PURE UUID: 4c8d456a-db7f-409f-9777-e59aebb6d40b

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Date deposited: 09 Jan 2009
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 11:47

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Contributors

Author: Joshua Mendelsohn
Author: Terry Dawson

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