Tracing the outbreak of ebola - Copernicus...virus may take place. Such areas are isolated rural...
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FACTS > Ebola outbreaks occur primarily in West Africa > Until mid-October 2014 nearly 9000 people are thought to have contracted the disease; almost half of those have died BENEFITS > Identification of potential habitats of fruit bats, one of the natural hosts of the ebola virus > Location of areas where potential patients might be > Supporting the planning of logistical operations for emergency management POLICY OBJECTIVES > EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection > EU Third Health Programme (2014-2020) > Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases Programme West African countries affected by the current ebola outbreak as of mid-October 2014. Source: World Health Organization; Background: Google Earth HOW COPERNICUS SUPPORTS EMERGENCY RESPONSE www.esa.int/copernicus • www.copernicus.eu Since February 2014, West Africa has been facing the most severe ebola outbreak recorded in history. Although the virus can only be transmitted by close contact with body fluids, health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients are especially at risk. Fruit bats are considered to be one of the natural hosts of the ebola virus; intermediate hosts can be monkeys, apes or pigs. The infection then spreads through these animals. To fight this lethal disease, the European Commission has made available €180 million. This funding will help contain the spread of the epidemic and provide immediate health care to the affected communities. In Europe, strict measures are taken to avoid the outbreak of this virulent disease. Satellite data help identify areas prone to the emergence and spreading of epidemics such as ebola, malaria, meningitis or dengue fever. By monitoring parameters like land cover, water bodies, wind or dust, satellites support preparedness, early warning, surveillance and quick response to disease outbreaks. In the case of ebola, satellites help to identify potential areas where initial contact with the virus may take place. Such areas are isolated rural settlements surrounded by dense tropical forests and oil palm cultivations. These are likely to attract fruit bats, one of the main vectors of the virus. Satellites provide accurate and timely information in the form of land cover reference maps that can then be combined with census data. Furthermore, satellites help to plan and support logistical operations for emergency management to tackle the spread of ebola outbreaks. Tracing the outbreak of ebola LAND MARINE ATMOSPHERE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE SECURITY ISSUE 47 / OCTOBER 2014 Countries with ebola outbreaks in West Africa SENEGAL GUINEA LIBERIA NIGERIA SIERRA LEONE
Transcript of Tracing the outbreak of ebola - Copernicus...virus may take place. Such areas are isolated rural...
FACTS
> Ebola outbreaks occur primarily in West Africa
> Until mid-October 2014 nearly 9000 people are thought to have contracted the disease; almost half of those have died
BENEFITS
> Identification of potential habitats of fruit bats, one
of the natural hosts of the ebola virus
> Location of areas where potential patients might be
> Supporting the planning of logistical operations for emergency management
POLICY OBJECTIVES
> EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection
> EU Third Health Programme (2014-2020)
> Emerging and Vector-borne Diseases Programme
West African countries affected by the current ebola outbreak as of mid-October 2014. Source: World Health Organization; Background: Google Earth
HOW COPERNICUS SUPPORTS EMERGENCY RESPONSE
www.esa.int/copernicus • www.copernicus.eu
Since February 2014, West Africa has been facing the most severe ebola outbreak recorded in history. Although the virus can only be transmitted by close contact with body fluids, health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients are especially at risk. Fruit bats are considered to be one of the natural hosts of the ebola virus; intermediate hosts can be monkeys, apes or pigs. The infection then spreads through these animals. To fight this lethal disease, the European Commission has made available €180 million. This funding will help contain the spread of the epidemic and provide immediate health care to the affected communities. In Europe, strict measures are taken to avoid the outbreak of this virulent disease.
Satellite data help identify areas prone to the emergence and spreading of epidemics such as ebola, malaria, meningitis or dengue fever. By monitoring parameters like land cover, water bodies, wind or dust, satellites support preparedness, early warning, surveillance and quick response to disease outbreaks. In the case of ebola, satellites help to identify potential areas where initial contact with the virus may take place. Such areas are isolated rural settlements surrounded by dense tropical forests and
oil palm cultivations. These are likely to attract fruit bats, one of the main vectors of the virus.
Satellites provide accurate and timely information in the form of land cover reference maps that can then be combined with census data. Furthermore, satellites help to plan and support logistical operations for emergency management to tackle the spread of ebola outbreaks.
Tracing the outbreak of ebola
LAND MARINE ATMOSPHERE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT CLIMATE CHANGE SECURITY
ISSUE 47 / OCTOBER 2014
Countries with ebola outbreaks in West Africa
SENEGAL
GUINEA
LIBERIA
NIGERIA
SIERRA LEONE
Liberia is experiencing cases of ebola with numerous deaths. Epidemiologists seek to identify isolated rural settlements surrounded by dense tropical forests and oil palm cultivations. These are likely to attract fruit bats, which are one of the main vectors of the ebola virus. The reference map shows besides oil palms and tropical forest also features such as roads and buildings in the area of Kwendin, Liberia. Such information supports identification of areas at risk and emergency response operations. Source: ESA / G-ECO-MON / GeoVille; Image: DigitalGlobe
www.esa.int/copernicus • www.copernicus.eu
> Improve the development of Earth observation methodologies to pinpoint areas at risk of ebola, malaria, meningitis or dengue fever
> Enhance capacity and integrate Earth observation techniques in disease control programmes
Fruit bats are a natural host of the ebola virus.
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service makes use of satellite data to provide regular and detailed geo-spatial information. Such information is used in modelling the prevalence and spread of diseases.
Copernicus thereby supports disease vector control and management programmes, particularly in Africa.
Products
> Land cover parameters such as oil palm cultivations, water bodies and general vegetation cover
> Parameters related to emergency management such as infrastructure and settlement maps
Copernicus Contribution Next Steps
From malaria to ebola, infectious diseases may not be able to hide for long. Copernicus satellites are increasingly used to pinpoint areas at risk of disease outbreaks.
ISSUE 47 / OCTOBER 2014
Sentinel-2MONITORING POTENTIAL EBOLA LOCATIONS FROM SPACE
SENTINEL-2 will provide:
> high spatial resolution for detailed reference maps
> a large number of spectral bands to pinpoint potential fruit bat habitats
> wide area coverage to map the vast areas affected in West Africa
> free and open data that can readily be integrated with ground information
LEGEND
Oil palm cultivations Buildings
