Integrated space technology monitoring of mosquitoes and malaria epidemics

Transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, malaria is the world´s most deadly vector borne disease. Mortality, currently estimated at over 1 million people per year, is rising. Epidemics account for up to 25% of the disease burden, and these too are increasing. This global resurgence in both incidence of epidemics and their mortality has been attributed to several factors: drug-resistant parasites, insecticide-resistant vectors, population shifts, war-damaged infrastructures, altered meteorological conditions, and drastic ecological transformation. In recent years satellite technology has demonstrated a key value to support a great variety of applications for the development of our society and economy. The three main space-based domains providing relevant infrastructure and facilities are satellite systems for Earth observation, telecommunication, and geopositioning/navigation. Such technologies are complementary to each other, and their synergetic integration can achieve the required product and service characteristics satisfying the needs of the different users ranging from weather forecasting and natural resource monitoring to disaster management and law enforcement activities. Health-related applications are an emerging domain that has to respond and address complex and global challenges.