Predict an epidemic with a satellite. The technique is already used by epidemiologists to collect valuable information on tropical diseases such as dengue or malaria. “Some infections are very sensitive to their environment, especially parasitic diseases and, with remote sensing via satellite, it is possible to identify places where the disease can proliferate”, explained Archie Clements, director of the public health faculty of Australian National University in Canberra, at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science this weekend in San Jose, California (USA).
Knowledge of certain parameters such as temperature, precipitation, soil moisture, vegetation and land use, combined with a complex computer model allow maps to be generated. “The results are maps to which countries with little capacity have access to collect and process disease data themselves”, continues Archie Clements, quoted by AFP.
The environment, a good indicator
Environmental data in particular provides tools for monitoring disease. Rift Valley fever (parasitic disease which mainly affects animals but can also contaminate humans, editor’s note) could thus be “predicted” a few months in advance. Local authorities were thus able to deploy health measures to control its spread.
Thanks to satellite observation, epidemiologists understood that the humidity favored the outbreak of mosquitoes containing the virus.
In the case of the dengue, it is the heat and the drought which would reinforce the transmission of the epidemic.
However, satellites remain only prevention tools. “The main challenge is the mobilization of sufficient resources from the countries concerned once the risk of epidemic has been identified in order to minimize it”, concludes Dr Clements to AFP.
