The rainfall-driven outbreaks have one primary culprit: the El Niño climate pattern. The warm cycle of El Niño (and cool cycle of La Niña) might relate to surges in mosquito-borne disease. Experts at the NASA, NOAA, the Department of Defense and the Department of Agriculture gathered mountains of data. They tracked surface temperatures on land and sea, followed expected climate patterns and weather observations, and used satellite images to calculate rainfall (vibrant green vegetation is a clear sign of well-watered land). All these metrics were compiled into a single tool which could pinpoint regions at risk of Rift Valley Fever outbreaks. In 2006, the RVF Monitor made its first prediction.
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