Geoprocessing and expected distribution of diseases (including deforestation, global warming and other changes)

Abstract

In epidemiology, in order to estimate risks and plan control measures, it is very important to predict when and where a disease may occur, even in areas not previously studied. It is also relevant for decision making to estimate or predict a priori the impacts resulting from changes in land use, land cover, and climate, among others, on the potential occurrence, distribution, or incidence of a disease. The meteorological and environmental products derived from satellite imagery can be used to monitor some conditions that favor or alternatively preclude the proliferation of vectors or affect the transmission of pathogens. On this chapter, we intend to make an introduction of the use of remote sensing and GIS technologuy for the study and surveillance of vector populations and for risk assessment of vector-borne diseases. n addition, some of the relations between antrhopic and environmental changes and selected vector-borne diseases are revised.