Diffusion – West Nile Virus

1. Diffusion – West Nile Virus • Lesson Essential Question: How can diffusion patterns be used to understand, manage and predict movement? • Background: As anyone who has ever tried to control a rumor can attest, news travels fast. So does innovation. Geographers map the movement of phenomena over space and time to look for patterns. This lesson looks at the main types of diffusion and applies them to a case study, the spread of West Nile Virus in the United States.

2. Diffusion – West Nile Virus • Key terms: • Diffusion; • expansion diffusion, • relocation diffusion • hierarchical diffusion

3. Scenario and Problem • Scientists at Advanced Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware [a fictitious company] are developing a human vaccine for West Nile Fever. The company’s marketing department is trying to anticipate the places in the Northern Hemisphere where the vaccine will be in highest demand. Students play the role of members of a marketing task force that has been assembled to answer this question. You need to determine where the virus has spread and what factors have affected its geographic pattern of diffusion. In particular, you need to examine whether the diffusion has been of the expansion, relocation or hierarchical type. From this information, you are asked to anticipate where the virus will spread next and whether the areas once infected maintain their rates of infection in the future. Your final report should make a recommendation for those places most likely to need the vaccine.

4. Diffusion – West Nile Virus • Learning Objectives • Acquire an understanding of the nature of geographic diffusion: the different types of diffusion, the nature and behavior of diffusion waves and the factors that affect the speed and potential direction of diffusion patterns. • Recognize geographic diffusion patterns and how they affect the changing character of places over time.

5. Diffusion – West Nile Virus • Situation: You are a member of a team created by the marketing department of Advanced Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware. Your company scientists are developing a human vaccine to combat the West Nile Virus (WNV). The vaccine should be ready for use in early 2006 and the marketing department has been asked to forecast where the vaccine is likely to be needed. Specifically, your team has been asked to make a presentation that answers the following questions: • What areas of North America (including Canada, Mexico and Central America) will be infected by West Nile fever by 2006? • What parts of North America (including Canada, Mexico and Central America) are likely to experience the highest demand for the vaccine in 2006?

6. Diffusion – West Nile Virus • Use the following maps to complete your packet • Pay attention to how the states with the highest number of infections change from year to year.

12. Diffusion – West Nile Virus • Although you have so far examined the pattern of diffusion, to answer the question about where the disease will spread next and where the disease will be most intense, you need to examine the causes of the spread. • Remember, the most widespread carriers are birds.

13. What does this bird map tell you about where WNV will go next?

14. What does this bird map tell you about where WNV will go next?

15. What do the mosquito maps tell you about where WNV will go next?

16. What do the mosquito maps tell you about where WNV will go next?

17. What do the mosquito maps tell you about where WNV will go next?

18. Diffusion – West Nile Virus • What factors can influence where we can most likely find mosquitoes? • Climate Factors • Temperature • Humidity • Examine the following maps and sketch conclusions as to where we will most likely find mosquitoes.

25. Use to sketch conclusions….

26. Report to the Marketing Department/Exit Ticket • You have now collected enough information to provide your recommendation to the Marketing Department. Your answers represent your best judgment – and reasonable people – other students – may come to different conclusions. The most important point to remember is to back up your recommendation with the best possible evidence. • What are the next likely areas to be infected? Take into account how far the virus has traveled in a year over the 2000-2004 time period. Consider both north and southward directions that may extend beyond the United States into other parts of North America, Also, don’t forget to consider the limiting factors. Write your response as part one of your formal report. • Of those areas likely to be infected by 2006, which area(s) do you expect will receive the highest rate of infections? To answer this question, consider the whole area of the hemisphere that will be infected. Also consider the factors that intensify WNV. Write your response as part two of your formal report.

27. Class Work • Geography Worksheets

28. Homework • Study for Transfer Task/Assessment • Finalize responses to Reading Questions

29. Transfer Task and Assessment Unit #1

30. Class work • Geography Reading • Complete assignment individually and quietly • NO Talking • Use own paper

31. Homework • Read – Student Reading Standard Two • Answer Questions