Harmful algal blooms and their impact on marine food poisonings in Madagascar

Music City Center 

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) produce toxins that contaminate coastal waters and aquatic foods, which can lead to severe and potentially deadly intoxications when consumed. Making use of satellite data, we examine spatial and temporal patterns of algal blooms around Madagascar, an extremely poor country heavily affected by HABs due to a combination of increasing nutrient pollution and rising water temperatures. Madagascar's population strongly depends on locally sourced seafood to survive, yet HABs remain understudied and largely unmonitored in the region. We develop a statistical approach drawing from the framework of generalized additive mixed models, incorporating high-resolution healthcare data from the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health, to explore the complex association between algal blooms and marine food-related illnesses at the local level. Our findings reveal distinct HAB distribution patterns, highlighting high-risk areas and seasons. We further demonstrate the link between satellite-detected blooms and intoxications, showcasing remote sensing's potential for public health applications in settings where resources on the ground are limited.

Harmful Algal Blooms

Remote Sensing

Generalized Additive Models

Public Health

Environmental Health

Satellite Data 

Section on Statistics and the Environment