Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches
Malaria affects about half of the world’s population, with the vast majority of cases occuring in Africa. National malaria control programmes aim to reduce the burden of malaria and its negative, socioeconomic effects by using various control strategies (<em>e.g.</em> vector control, env...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2015-06-01
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| Series: | Geospatial Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.geospatialhealth.net/index.php/gh/article/view/335 |
| _version_ | 1818314054188400640 |
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| author | Jonas Franke Michael Gebreslasie Ides Bauwens Julie Deleu Florian Siegert |
| author_facet | Jonas Franke Michael Gebreslasie Ides Bauwens Julie Deleu Florian Siegert |
| author_sort | Jonas Franke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Malaria affects about half of the world’s population, with the vast majority of cases occuring in Africa. National malaria control programmes aim to reduce the burden of malaria and its negative, socioeconomic effects by using various control strategies (<em>e.g.</em> vector control, environmental management and case tracking). Vector control is the most effective transmission prevention strategy, while environmental factors are the key parameters affecting transmission. Geographic information systems (GIS), earth observation (EO) and spatial modelling are increasingly being recognised as valuable tools for effective management and malaria vector control. Issues previously inhibiting the use of EO in epidemiology and malaria control such as poor satellite sensor performance, high costs and long turnaround times, have since been resolved through modern technology. The core goal of this study was to develop and implement the capabilities of EO data for national malaria control programmes in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. High- and very high resolution (HR and VHR) land cover and wetland maps were generated for the identification of potential vector habitats and human activities, as well as geoinformation on distance to wetlands for malaria risk modelling, population density maps, habitat foci maps and VHR household maps. These products were further used for modelling malaria incidence and the analysis of environmental factors that favour vector breeding. Geoproducts were also transferred to the staff of national malaria control programmes in seven African countries to demonstrate how EO data and GIS can support vector control strategy planning and monitoring. The transferred EO products support better epidemiological understanding of environmental factors related to malaria transmission, and allow for spatio-temporal targeting of malaria control interventions, thereby improving the cost-effectiveness of interventions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:43:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31f2c8d6917948b58a5798fbef20279a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1827-1987 1970-7096 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T08:43:32Z |
| publishDate | 2015-06-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geospatial Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-31f2c8d6917948b58a5798fbef20279a2022-12-21T23:53:30ZengPAGEPress PublicationsGeospatial Health1827-19871970-70962015-06-0110110.4081/gh.2015.335316Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approachesJonas Franke0Michael Gebreslasie1Ides Bauwens2Julie Deleu3Florian Siegert4Remote Sensing Solutions GmbH, BaierbrunnSchool of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University KwaZulu-Natal, DurbanNazka mapps bvba, HeverEUROSENSE, WemmelRemote Sensing Solutions GmbH, Baierbrunn; Biology Department II, GeoBioCenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, PlaneggMalaria affects about half of the world’s population, with the vast majority of cases occuring in Africa. National malaria control programmes aim to reduce the burden of malaria and its negative, socioeconomic effects by using various control strategies (<em>e.g.</em> vector control, environmental management and case tracking). Vector control is the most effective transmission prevention strategy, while environmental factors are the key parameters affecting transmission. Geographic information systems (GIS), earth observation (EO) and spatial modelling are increasingly being recognised as valuable tools for effective management and malaria vector control. Issues previously inhibiting the use of EO in epidemiology and malaria control such as poor satellite sensor performance, high costs and long turnaround times, have since been resolved through modern technology. The core goal of this study was to develop and implement the capabilities of EO data for national malaria control programmes in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. High- and very high resolution (HR and VHR) land cover and wetland maps were generated for the identification of potential vector habitats and human activities, as well as geoinformation on distance to wetlands for malaria risk modelling, population density maps, habitat foci maps and VHR household maps. These products were further used for modelling malaria incidence and the analysis of environmental factors that favour vector breeding. Geoproducts were also transferred to the staff of national malaria control programmes in seven African countries to demonstrate how EO data and GIS can support vector control strategy planning and monitoring. The transferred EO products support better epidemiological understanding of environmental factors related to malaria transmission, and allow for spatio-temporal targeting of malaria control interventions, thereby improving the cost-effectiveness of interventions.http://www.geospatialhealth.net/index.php/gh/article/view/335Disease monitoringHealthMalaria riskRemote sensingVector control |
| spellingShingle | Jonas Franke Michael Gebreslasie Ides Bauwens Julie Deleu Florian Siegert Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches Geospatial Health Disease monitoring Health Malaria risk Remote sensing Vector control |
| title | Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches |
| title_full | Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches |
| title_fullStr | Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches |
| title_full_unstemmed | Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches |
| title_short | Earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology: MALAREO monitoring approaches |
| title_sort | earth observation in support of malaria control and epidemiology malareo monitoring approaches |
| topic | Disease monitoring Health Malaria risk Remote sensing Vector control |
| url | http://www.geospatialhealth.net/index.php/gh/article/view/335 |
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