valued at up to US$2.5 billion which had disastrous effects on the food security situation in West Africa. However a combination of strict pest control measures and a good harvest allowed Africa to avoid a continent-wide food disaster. According to the FAO, while the overall food output for the affected Sahel region has declined, it is still within the range of five-year averages. Nevertheless, some countries lost significant portions of their crops to the locusts, particularly Mauritania, which lost as much as half of its harvest. The outbreak inspired several works of literature. In March 2007, Andersen Press published Sophie and the Locust Curse, a novel by British children's author Stephen Davies about the devastating impact of the 2004 locust swarm on communities in the Sahel region of Burkina Faso. See also List of locust swarms References Ullman, M. (2006). African Desert Locusts in Morocco in November 2004. Brit. Birds 99: 489-491. External links IRIN Locust Swarm 2004 film FAO Locust Watch Locust swarms Insect ecology Locust Natural disasters in Africa Locust 2003 disasters in Africa Locust 2004 disasters in Africa Locust 2005 disasters in Africa