Scientists are working hand in hand to utilize satellite data to track and target deadly parasites in order to predict patterns of most common infectious and parasitic diseases such as malaria, worms and hydatids.
It is a groundbreaking example of how disease research has expanded through the years. They are now looking into a more sophisticated, state-of-the-art and modernized method of tracking disease patterns worldwide.
There are many parasites, organisms that live in a host and survive through getting the food and nutrients at their expanse. Thus, commonly, it causes disease in humans. Some may be easy to treat, but some such as malaria, are not.
Project leader Professor Archie Clements, from The Australian National University, told Science Daily that the research could help authorities in tropical and developing countries battle these diseases.
"Some diseases are highly sensitive to their environment, especially parasitic diseases. With remote sensing you can identify places where disease flourishes," said Professor Clements.
"This information is useful for decision makers to help them ensure scarce resources are targeted to where they are most needed," he added.
Of course, most of the parasitic diseases can be found in the tropics and subtropics. Majority of the cases are localized in under-developed countries that affect millions of people each year. In the study, the team has used satellite data like temperature, vegetation, land usage, rainfall and they combine it with health data in a geographical information system (GIS).
"The result is maps that are accessible to countries with limited capacity for managing disease data, tailored to their local needs," Prof. Clements explained.
He added, "Some diseases are highly sensitive to their environment, especially parasitic diseases. With remote sensing you can identify places where disease flourishes." With the combined skills of many experts from various fields such as social science, epidemiology, software development and health policy specialists, they would be able to provide maps on the concentration of parasitic diseases and where they might be located.
Trial systems were done for malaria in Bhutan, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. However, they are looking for funding to be able to established trial studies in bigger countries. Also, trial and spatial predictions for diseases involving worms and hydatids are now being developed for countries like China and the Philippines.
"By taking this research the next step, we have the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the real world, and save a lot of lives," Professor Clements said.