Predicting Hantaviral Disease Outbreaks in Southwestern United States

Hantaviral disease is caused by a virus transmitted to people by rodents. Approximately 50% of infected people die from the disease. This disease occurs most notably in the U.S. Southwest in years associated with El Nino events. This paper will describe the use of satellite imagery to predict where and when outbreaks of hantaviral disease are likely to occur. Predictions for the spring and summer of the year 2000 are presented.